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WELCOMING
THE STRANGER - The work of BEACON
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Each year thousands of asylum seekers, fleeing persecution in their own countries, come as strangers to seek refuge in the United Kingdom. By the summer of 2005 a number of churches in Bradford were finding asylum seekers in their congregations. Not only did these newcomers enrich the worship and fellowship of those congregations but local people and ministers began to discover the real hardships that asylum seekers face. BEACON was set up out of a shared concern to address the practical and spiritual needs of the many asylum seekers and refugees who now live in the Bradford district. It is an ecumenical response to fulfil the Biblical injunction to welcome the stranger, but seeks to work with other faith groups and secular agencies to offer care and support to asylum seekers. Our meetings are well attended by Anglicans, Methodists, Baptists, Roman Catholics and Quakers, including people involved with BIASAN (Bradford Immigration and Asylum Support and Advice Network), Bradford Action for Refugees and Amnesty International. Most of the people attending
have come to know asylum seekers and refugees and can see the urgent need
for the churches of Bradford to work together in responding to their needs.
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| HOW DOES BEACON WORK? | |
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BEACON is a registered Charity which is funded solely through voluntary donations from individuals, churches and groups. It has an Executive Committee, which was elected from BEACON membership in July 2007, to deal with the employment of a Development Worker Members of the BEACON Executive
Committee The committee meets bi-monthly. The general meeting now known
as the BEACON Forum is open to everyone who is concerned about asylum
seekers. At this meeting we discuss current issues in the asylum debate.
We look at the local scene through input from asylum seekers and other
organisations involved in serving the needs of asylum seekers. We gather
new information. We plan events which can be celebrations or awareness
raising. We generate ideas, strategies and enthusiasm as we support each
other in this vital work. The Worker deals with the day to day running of the organisation, recruits, trains and supports volunteers, and liaises with outside agencies. The Development worker is based
in an office at Touchstone, 32 Merton Rd, Bradford, BD7 1RE
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| BEACON PROJECTS | |
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MCKENZIE FRIENDS are trained volunteers who provide moral support and informed help for those, without access to legal representation, appealing against asylum decisions at Phoenix House, the Asylum Hearings Centre at Thornbury. CHAT (Care and Hospitality at Thornbury) volunteers offer a warm welcome and simple refreshments to asylum seekers waiting for their appeals to start at Phoenix House HOSTING
PROJECT CAMPAIGNING seeks to challenge negative and destructive attitudes to asylum seekers within the media and Government, not least in the Home Office, and to campaign against unjust legislation AWARENESS RAISING |
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| WHY A CHURCHES' ORGANISATION ? | |
| 1 | BEACON co-operates with other Bradford Asylum Groups and is not in competition with them - many of our key people are involved in them and and keep us informed about their activities on a week by week basis |
| 2 | BEACON can bring new resources into the Bradford Asylum scene by helping people make connections between their faith and Asylum issues. |
| 3 | BEACON can draw upon human and financial resources in every part of Bradford Met where churches have ready-made channels for linking inner and outer areas. |
| 4 | BEACON provides churches with stories and prayer resources which can contribute to their worship and spiritual life. Some have found their fellowship life renewed by an influx of Asylum Seekers. |
| 5 | BEACON encourages churches to draw upon the experiences and spirituality of Christian Asylum Seekers from many different parts of the world. |
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BEACON can make use of Interfaith networks in its work |
| HOW YOU CAN HELP | |
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A number of individuals, churches, and wider church bodies have already given money to support this venture in faith but it needs much more to be able to start. BEACON will eventually be seeking contributions from other funding sources but to be successful the project needs to be able to demonstrate strong support from local churches and individual Christians. At least one group of churches has pledged annual donations for three years, which is particularly helpful. Cheques should be made payable
to BEACON |
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