EMBRACE receives no ongoing core funding and values the support of members and interested parties as it seeks to equip the church to understand and respond to the situation for minority ethnic people, and also as it acts in practical ways to meet particular requests for assistance.

You can be involved in supporting our work through giving in the following ways:

EMERGENCY FUND

The Emergency Fund is used to provide vital emergency assistance to destitute migrant workers and people seeking asylum where no other means of support, either statutory or charitable is available. Assistance may be given to provide hostel accommodation and food as a short-term stop gap whilst a longer term solution is established. It may be provided to allow someone to return to their home country when there is no reason to stay and no other means of returning. All support given is subject to meeting a set of criteria and delivered through agencies such as NASS and NICEM. To learn more about migrant worker destitution, see our migrant worker pages. If you would like to give to this fund please contact us.

MEMBERSHIP 

Individuals and groups may become members of EMBRACE by registering and making an annual payment (£10 for an individual and £20 for a group). Members receive a quarterly news sheet, the EMBRACE annual update booklet and information on EMBRACE events. In addition members can be involved in working groups which gather and disseminate information, organise and support events, and focus on specific projects. For more information please contact us.

Download an EMBRACE membership form here. Please complete the gift aid section if you are a UK tax-payer.
If you would like to contribute regularly, please contact our office to receive a standing order form.

DONATIONS

We are indebted to those who have supported the work of EMBRACE through their donations. As a voluntary organisation without core funding, the preparation of many materials and the general administration of the office could not be done without the support received in this way. If you would like to make a donation to EMBRACE please contact us.

‘The command to love your neighbour extends to everybody who lives near you and everybody you meet in the six days between attending church. … We should avoid thinking of ‘church’ as simply a ‘church’ building and instead think of ourselves as the active, committed people of God.’
Welcoming Angels, Dublin 2005, p. 40.

Many of us would love get to know new neighbours, helping them to adjust to new surroundings, and building more inclusive communities. We are concerned with the needs of people who have been forced to flee from their own countries. As change produces fear and suspicion, and there is an increase in overt racism, we want to find ways of creating bridges of trust. These are just a few ideas as to how to make a start:

Becoming a more welcoming congregation

• Ensure that your church buildings are welcoming from the outside, with clear signs.
• Language is very important, and it is helpful if people can be greeted with a phrase or two in their own language.
• Encourage newcomers to participate, for example, in reading a lesson or taking up the collection/ offertory.
• Include some aspect of the worship tradition from the country of origin, such as a song or a prayer.
• Invite members of minority ethnic Christian groups to take part in special services.
• Hold special services for example, in Refugee Week, Anti-Racism Sunday, or Holocaust Memorial Day, and invite members of minority groups to speak or attend.
• Could your premises be use for a drop-in centre to help people settle in, or host a mother and toddler group, recreation centre (sport or culture) for minority ethnic groups, English language classes, or an advice centre?
• Work with others on a welcome pack for new residents.
   

Increasing cultural and ethnic awareness

• Encourage racial awareness and anti-racism training in your congregation or area.
• Hold celebration meals such as harvest suppers where you might invite people from a minority ethnic group to cook for you.
• Celebrate festivals such as Chinese New Year.
• Visit cultural centres together. For example, people from a rural background, anywhere in the world, will find something in common at somewhere like the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum.
• Visit the cultural centres of minority ethnic communities – such as the Indian Community Centre in Belfast, to learn, and to affirm their presence as part of a shared society.
• Learn about other people’s religious beliefs and practices by hosting an exhibition, visiting religious centres, or inviting members of other faiths to explain their religious beliefs.
• Find ways of celebrating and honouring the achievement of individuals and groups from minority ethnic populations in your community.
• Use any forum, inter-church groups, Community Safety Groups, District Policing Partnerships, to make sure that even minor acts of racism are taken seriously.
   

Some practical things you might do personally or in a group

• Pray for the work of EMBRACE and the building of a more welcoming community.
• Invite people from minority ethnic backgrounds to your home.
• Learn as much as you can about the issues surrounding immigration, asylum and racism so that you can counter myths and stereotyping.
• Join EMBRACE so that we can help to keep you informed about facts and issues.
• Compile a dossier about racist incidents in your area and share this with community and congregational leaders.
• Let EMBRACE know about the good and the bad news from your local area – in congregations and in the community.
• Consider training in order to volunteer to teach English as a second language, become an adult literacy tutor, volunteer as a translator, or teach computer literacy.
• Undertake race awareness or cultural diversity training.
• Volunteer with other groups such as the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (NICEM), Multi-Cultural Resource Centre (MCRC), or Red Cross.
• Think of fund-raising ideas for the EMBRACE emergency fund.
• EMBRACE needs volunteers from time to time to provide food for picnics and parties – make sure that we have your details if you would like to help.
• Raise small amounts of money for the EMBRACE emergency fund.
• There may be other appeals for practical assistance from time to time, e.g. for emergency packs for destitute migrant workers or new asylum applicants.

For some further ideas, look at Embracing Diversity, our information update, and keep an eye on the web site for forthcoming events and appeals, and to discuss volunteering options please phone 07969921328