Category Archives: Regional news and events

All articles, Regional news and events

Refugee Week Nottingham 2020 (and 2021!)

Nottingham Refugee Week is an act of welcome, a gesture of solidarity and a shared celebration with people who are refugees and asylum-seekers in Nottingham. It runs every year from 15th-21st June.

“The global situation has meant we’ve had to put our face-to-face plans for Refugee Week 2020 on hold for this year. But we’re just as excited to share some online events, activities and resources that we’ve put together to keep the spirit of Nottingham Refugee Week alive, so that we can continue to connect, create and imagine in these challenging times. Rest assured that we’ll be ready and rearing to go with the fantastic events we have planned for 2021, when we’ll be able to support refugee communities, educate people on the issues faced by refugees and asylum-seekers, and make our city a truly welcoming place.

In the mean time, why not download our Activity Pack and get creative; tune in for a podcast with award-winning author Christy Lefteri; roll out your yoga mat and stretch those worries away with Bahia Yoga; or join writer Eve Makis for a special online Life-Writing Session? Don’t forget to check out all our other resources too!

We’d love it If you’d share your creative work, and your thoughts about Refugee Week, on social media with us. You can email us at nottinghamrefugeeweek@gmail.com, post to Facebook, tagging @NottinghamRefugeeWeek, or post to Twitter, tagging @NottsRW.”

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ExLibris booksale April-May 2019

This is just a quick note to say that refugee-friendly ExLibris (the masked booksellers) are hosting another two long weekends of second-hand book sale events in Gedling (Friday 26th to Monday 29th April & Friday 3rd to Monday 6th May, 2019). As it’s consistently so popular, this year they are encouraging booksale visitors to please indicate online which day(s) you are attending (although you can still just turn up). This will no doubt help to gauge how much tea and cake is needed!

Last year’s booksale took £2176, which was given to Nottingham and Notts Refugee Forum Anti-destitution project and Hayward House palliative care NUH Charity.

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Nottingham and Notts Refugee Forum

Nottingham and Notts Refugee Forum, based at the Sycamore Centre in St. Ann’s, offers advice, support and friendship to Nottingham’s refugees and asylum seekers.

There are lots of ways to help NNRF. Volunteering, working there or donations.
Volunteer opportunities and Job Vacancies are advertised on the NNRF website. Donate via the website: http://www.nottsrefugeeforum.org.uk/

Find NNRF on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nottsrefugeeforum/

Follow @NNRF1 on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nnrf1

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#SOSEurope vigil Wed 22 April -To remember all people who have died crossing the Mediterranean

To remember all people who have died crossing the Mediterranean.
(source: http://www.amnesty.org.uk/groups/nottingham/soseurope-vigil-wed-22-april ).

This Wednesday 22 April, please join us at Brian Clough statue, Market Square, Nottingham, 5:30-6:30pm to remember all those dying as they try to cross the Mediterranean.

There’s been a two incidents in the news in the last few days, and up to 1,500 people are feared to have drowned this year alone.

Please come along if you can, and bring a white flower in remembrance.

More info on vigil: https://www.facebook.com/events/434913446682684/

More info on the situation from the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32376082

More info on Amnesty’s campaign: http://www.sos-europe-amnesty.eu/stop-people-from-suffering-and-dying-at-our-borders-actions/

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Human rights day 10-Dec-2014 at Nottingham ICC – detention and scapegoating of immigrants

HUMAN RIGHTS DAY MEETING
THE FIGHT TO END DETENTION AND STOP THE SCAPEGOATING OF IMMIGRANTS
SPEAKERS FROM MOVEMENT FOR JUSTICE
WEDNESDAY 10th DECEMBER
7.30pm

at the International Community Centre
61b Mansfield Road, Nottingham NG1 3FN

Background and details about the meeting from the organisers

The Surround Harmondsworth demonstrations led by Movement for Justice have
become the focal point for a growing movement nationally to end detention and stop
the scapegoating of immigrants. At this meeting you will hear from ex-detainee’s and
Movement for Justice organisers about the struggle inside and outside of detention to
bring down a system that sees thousands of people locked up, people who have
committed no crime other than to seek freedom and safety for themselves and their
families. You will find out how you can get involved in this movement for freedom and
join others in Nottingham as we organise and mobilise for January’s demonstration.

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Nottingham and Notts Refugee Forum – website reminder

Just a reminder about the website of Nottingham and Notts Refugee Forum which also moved this year:
http://nottsrefugeeforum.org.uk/

http://nottsrefugeeforum.org.uk/were-on-the-move/

About:
Nottingham & Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum (NNRF) is an independent voluntary organisation and registered charity set up in 2000 to work with and for refugees and asylum seekers in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire offering practical advice, information, support and friendship and also campaigning on issues affecting them.

NNRF is run by a volunteer Management Committee, a third of whose members are refugees and asylum seekers. Its supporters include political, religious and students groups, trades unions and concerned individuals, as well as refugees and asylum seekers who have always been involved in the running of NNRF.

Our Mission:
To support Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Nottingham & Nottinghamshire to gain fair and just outcomes, rebuild their lives and integrate into society.

Our Vision:

A society where Asylum Seekers and Refugees are welcomed, receive just and compassionate treatment and support in rebuilding their lives.

We seek to achieve this by:

Providing a welcoming community centre.
Offering specialised advice & support services.
Providing programmes to develop confidence, skills and knowledge.
Campaigning for a just and generous response to Refugees and Asylum Seekers from government and the host community.
Advocating on behalf of individual Asylum Seekers and Refugees in cases of injustice and hardship.

Contact Address: NNRF, The Sycamore Centre, 31 Hungerhill Road, Nottingham, NG3 4NB.
Telephone: (0115) 9601230

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ExLibris – Nottingham 2014 Megasale – September 12th – 14th

ExLibris – Nottingham 2014 September Megasale – not long now!

A message from the Masked Booksellers (Carlton/Gedling branch)…

This year our 8th anual mega-booksale will be on September 12th – 14th, again Friday to Sunday as this seemed successful last year. We’ll be running from 11.00 am to 7.00 pm on all days. There will again be yummy cakes for sale.

Details including location:

http://www.maskedbooksellers.org.uk/booksales.htm

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RELAUNCH: Tuesday Night Project – Nottingham

RELAUNCH: Tuesday Night Project

The Tuesday Night Project will be relaunched as The Tuesday Night Welcome
Group on the 9th September at a new venue St Andrews Hall, Goldsmith Street
NG1 5JT, Just around the corner from the University Tram Stop.

The Group is aimed at Welcoming new Asylum Seekers to the City and will be
working with Nottingham University Star Students to learn English as part of
their Conversation classes. They will also:-

Help new Asylum Seekers register with Begin for college, and introduce them to
the various free Language Cafes and activities in their local libraries around
the city.

Help register people with the YMCA Activity for Life a free 12 week health
project at the gym.

Provide a social space so new Asylum Seekers will be able to meet and make new
friends.

Hosting monthly community activities and encouraging new communities activity.
Signposting clients to other organisations around the city.

The group hope to have guest speakers from different community groups
attending on a Tuesday Evening and are planning to invite workers from
Ridewise and Sustrans to talk about their projects after the relaunch on the
9th September.

For more information please contact Bill Walton at the British Red Cross on
07834252008.

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Campaign with petition for Abdul Ghafar Rajabali – release from detention, no deportation

1 Comment

Update 16/5/2013 (full details below):

Abdul has been given his scheduled date for removal and flight time from the UK for early morning next Wednesday 22nd May at 00.10am. He is understandably very worried about this but his many friends continue to support him in every way they can.

What you can do:
– first and foremost, sign the petition at the website below:
– write to your local MP (or the relevant office for external affairs if you’re outside of the UK)
– write to Home Secretary, Theresa May MP at public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
– copy your email to Minister for Immigration, Mark Harper MP, at ministerforimmigration@homeoffice.gsi.gov
– telephone the office of the Home Secretary, Theresa May MP, on +44(0)20 7035 4848 or +44(0)870 606 7766
– telephone the office of the Minister for Immigration on +44(0)20 7035 4848 or +44(0)20 7219 5056

Let’s make a big push over the next few days to help ensure that Abdul stays.

Solidarity with Abdul!

We have been contacted by friends in Leicester about the detention of Abdul Ghafar Rajabali. As part of his asylum requirement, Abdul regularly reported to the UK Border Agency reporting station in Loughborough. However, while reporting to UKBA on Friday 10th May 2013, he was detained and held at Loughborough police station. From there, he was to be transferred to Morton Hall Detention Centre in Lincolnshire to await his removal back to Afghanistan. Morton Hall Visitors’ Group are aware of this.

Petition | Release Abdul Ghafar Rajabali and halt his deportation | Change.org
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/release-abdul-ghafar-rajabali-and-halt-his-deportation

Here’s Abdul’s story in brief:

Abdul is being held in Morton Hall Detention Centre awaiting deportation to Afghanistan
He fled Afghanistan as a teenager to avoid the option of being either press-ganged into the Taliban or shot
His father was Russian and all his family were consequently murdered in connection with this
He arrived in the UK six years ago, when still a minor
He now knows no one in Afghanistan, would be unable to cope and would be in extreme danger there
He suffers from post-traumatic stress syndrome and has other medical problems
He has made many friends in Leicester, helps out with Leicester City of Sanctuary based at the Cathedral and participates in a local anti-racist/anti-fascist football team, FC Kolektivo Victoria – https://www.facebook.com/pages/FC-Kolektivo-Victoria/199020316797628
He is an asset to his local community

It’d be much appreciated if you could sign the petition to halt his deportation (in cases like this, they can be very useful):
Petition | Release Abdul Ghafar Rajabali and halt his deportation | Change.org
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/release-abdul-ghafar-rajabali-and-halt-his-deportation

You will also find more information on his case and tips on how to help Abdul further at this website: Campaign for Abdul Ghafar Rajabali
http://releaseabdul.blogspot.co.uk/

Also, if you could forward this info to anyone else you reckon would support Abdul, that’d be ace.