Latest News
ASAP training calendar 2008/09 - Liverpool, London and Birmingham A new ASAP training calendar for spring/summer 2008/09 is out now (click here for more details). Our 'Support options for failed asylum seekers' training will be useful for voluntary sector advice agencies and refugee community organisations who give advise to asylum seekers about their housing and welfare issues. If you want to receive more information about these training sessions, please call Abigail (Mon and Wed only) on 020 8686 1888 or email at office@asaproject.org.uk.
'How can we end destitution?' Successful ASAP AGM - November 2007 Over 70 people attended ASAP's AGM at the City Hall in London on 26 Nov 2007. Speakers for the evening were Sandy Buchan (Refugee Action) Dashty Jamal (Federation of Iraqi Refugees) and Richard Stanton (Greater London Authority). We also welcomed guests from outside London - Hull, Birmingham and Portsmouth. Eiri Ohtani, the ASAP Co-ordinator, said 'The Management Committee and staff members are grateful to our members, supporters and interagency partners who continue to support our work. ASAP’s very limited resources mean that we remain a micro organisation, but we hope to make a bigger impact in the future years with the support from our colleagues.'
Click here for the ASAP Annual Report.
New office and new staff member - September 2007
ASAP has recently moved to a new office near East Croydon station. Our new contact details are: 18 Barclay Road, Croydon CR0 1JN, tel 020 8686 1888, fax 020 8686 1899. All our email addresses will remain the same, however, we expect to have no internet connection until the end of September. We apologise for any inconveniences caused.
In October 2007, ASAP will welcome Colin McCloskey as one of our Legal Advisors. He used to work at J Everett & Co. as a Consultant Solicitor and will bring his invaluable legal expertise to our team.
ASAP response to the Joint Committee on Human Rights' report The Treatment of Asylum Seekers - 30 March 2007
The Joint Committee on Human Rights publishes a report today which includes a recommendation that the Government provide public funding for legal representation for asylum support appeals.
Eiri Ohtani, ASAP Co-ordinator, said "This is an important milestone for ASAP. We are very pleased that the JCHR's recommendation clearly echoes the evidence we submitted."
ASAP has been highlighting this issue during our Destitution Awareness Week by providing free legal representation to all asylum seekers at the court this week. To read ASAP's press release, click here.
Another Destitution Awareness Week 26 - 30 March 2007
ASAP is hosting another Destitution Awareness Week between 26th and 30th March 2007 to highlight the continuing problem of destitution of asylum seekers. During the week, ASAP will be providing legal advice and representation to all asylum seekers who have asylum support appeal hearings at the court in Croydon. A group of barristers and solicitors will be volunteering to help ASAP with this task. You can read about a report on our Destitution Awareness Week in December 2006 here.
Proving "destitution" at the court - a case study, March 2007
This case study shows how the ASAP Legal Advisor helped Mr A, a refused asylum seeker, to get section 4 support during his court hearing. Mr A had to show to the Adjudicator that he was indeed destitute. Many people assume that it is easy to prove that someone is destitute. But in fact it can be quite complicated. This is the reason why ASAP believes that asylum seekers need competent legal representation during asylum support appeal hearings. To read the case study, click here.
Raise money for ASAP by walking 10km on 14 May 2007!
ASAP is again taking part in a charity walk hosted by the London Legal Support Trust on 14 May 2007. The walk is 10km long and starts at 5:30pm at the Royal Court of Justice on Strand and finishes at the Law Society. ASAP's team raised over £1,600 last year and we hope to raise more this year. If you want to sponsor one of our walkers or walk with us (which is fun!), please contact Eiri at Eiri@asaproject.org.uk. You can also donate online at www.justgiving.com/ASAP07. Please support our work!
New reports and campaign on destitution Spring 2007
March 07 is a busy month for all of us working with destitute asylum seekers. The campaign to end destitution of refused asylum seekers, Still Human Still Here, has started. The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust's Leeds Destitution Inquiry Commissioners' report will be launched on 28th March 07. Also don't forget that the Joint Committee on Human Rights will be publishing a report on the treatment of asylum seekers very soon, following their inquiry.
"Failing the Failed" - Poor Decision Making Forces Failed Asylum Seekers into Unlawful Destitution>
ASAP latest research finds that over 80% of decisions made by BIA which forced failed asylum seekers into destitution contained misapplications and/or misinterpretations of law.
ASAP's report "Failing the Failed?" examines the quality of decision making within BIA. The report highlights a catalogue of errors BIA case workers were making when deciding not to provide housing and welfare support to destitute failed asylum seekers, may suffering from physical or mental health problems. You can read our press release here.
ASAP looked at 117 negative decisions made by BIA between January and December 2006 and found that over 80% of these decisions either misapplied or incorrectly interpreted the law. ASAP is extremely concerned that support is being denied in this way.
You can read the report here, if you have any questions or want to know how you can help challenge unlawful decisions and stop the extended destitution of failed asylum seekers please contact ASAP.