A safe place to call home

Finding somewhere safe to live is one of the biggest challenges facing refugees. Destitute asylum seekers are often forced to seek rest on night buses, rely on friends who might let them ‘sofa surf’ for a night or two, or sleep on the streets.

We need your help to keep our Accommodation Project going. Can you help?

Below are a few ideas for fundraising – feel free to come up with some of your own!

• Host a fundraiser for JRS UK – a bake sale? A charity run? A raffle?
• Host an appeal at your church on Sunday – ask your church for permission to hold a collection for JRS UK’s accommodation project. Need a script?
• Do a sponsored walk – could you go on a sponsored nature or history walk in you area?
• Or take part in other sponsored events… you could give up your favourite treats for a week, or take up some other kind of challenge!
• Host a film night – why not screen a film at school to learn more about the experiences of refugees? You could combine this with a bake sale too – everyone likes snacks whilst watching a film!
• Organise a collection of essential items such as toiletries, food, and clothing.
• Learn more and raise awareness at school – you could prepare an assembly at school, or create a display board about refugees!
• Hold a fundraising competition between classes – could you award a pizza party or something similar to the class that raises the most money?

Write Christmas Cards to Detention

Immigration detention is the holding of people in prison-like conditions, for the purpose of immigration control.

Primary resources

Activities

What makes you feel welcome? – a classroom activity for primary and lower secondary students for World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2023, which you can adapt to use at any time during the school year. This presentation briefly introduces the fact that many people are forced to move, and then focusses on the idea of welcome and hospitality. The class should focus on what makes them feel welcome and recognised by others, and how they would like to offer a welcome to others.

Secondary resources

Refugee voices

A message to young people in schools – without recourse to public funds, many of the refugee friends JRS UK work with are not able to attend college or university. In this letter, our refuge friend shares her hope to study, a message to young people in schools, and some insight into her experiences of seeking asylum in the UK. There are some suggested questions for reflection & possible next steps.

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Resource pack: A Catholic approach to refugees and migrants

This resource pack gives material for four lessons (which can be broken down further and covered over multiple classes) on a Catholic approach to refugees and migrants, intended to contribute to a spiral curriculum, drawing upon various learning points from the RED.

We have split up the content into four separate lessons, but teachers should adapt as appropriate for their class – some content can be covered over multiple lessons if suitable.

1. Introduction and definitions – this lesson is intended to be an introduction to the topic of refugees and migrants. It starts off by learning what students’ current understandings of who refugees and migrants are, before introducing some initial definitions and facts. A research activity is suggested – this can be done as part of the class itself or as homework. This pack includes a powerpoint, teachers notes, and a worksheet.
2. Migration in Bible stories – this lesson introduces some stories of forced displacement in the Old Testament, before moving on to introduce some modern day stories of displacement internationally. This pack includes a powerpoint and teachers notes. A worksheet is coming soon.
3. Coming soon: Accompaniment in Action – the work of the Jesuit Refugee Service
4. Coming soon: Working together for good – next steps in supporting refugees

Assembly resources

World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2023 assembly – a general assembly presentation introducing World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2023. It briefly introduces refugees and Pope Francis’ call for communities to offer a welcome to those seeking safety. The presentation focuses on what schools can do to raise awareness and help refugees and asylum seekers. This powerpoint can be adapted for use at any time during the school year.

Take action

Coming soon: Day of Action Pack

Want to support JRS UK?

Here are some ideas of what you can do:

• Hold a fundraiser for JRS UK – a bake sale? a charity run? a raffle?;
• Write letters to people held in immigration detention;
• Organise a donation of essential items such as toiletries, food, and clothing;
• Learn more and raise awareness at school – prepare an assembly for other year groups? create a display board?;
• Invite JRS UK to come and speak!

For more information, please get in contact with Victoria, Senior Communications and Engagement Officer, at victoria.firth@jrs.net.

Young Uruguayan visitors at JRS UK

13 February 2023 – Colegio Seminario visits JRS UK

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A Christmas Card can say so much when you’re in Detention

12 December 2022 – St Ignatius College in Enfield, supporting Refugees in Detention

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