EmbraceNI

News 2012

jill — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:41:41 +0000

Migration in N Ireland research paper published by NI Assembly
A 26 page briefing on migration patterns and impact over the past 10 years prepared by Dr Raymond Russell can be accessed here www.niassembly.gov.uk/Documents/RaISe/Publications/2012/general/3112.pdf

History

jill — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 09:58:58 +0000

EMBRACE is an inter-church organisation, which began as a support group for refugees and people seeking asylum , but we now see our main role as one of encouraging church communities to make this a more welcoming place for all people from minority ethnic backgrounds.

It began informally in 2001 as individuals from different denominations became increasingly concerned about the difficulties facing refugees and people seeking asylum in this country. They wanted to do more than talk and were committed to finding a way of responding in a Gospel manner to the new strangers in our midst.

A focus group was formed which met with organisations such as NICEM, the Red Cross, the St Vincent de Paul Society and the Law Centre as its members tried to educate themselves about the situation. It also hosted several seminars in St Clement’s retreat house in order to inform and to raise awareness of the local situation.

The next step was to contact interested people from the other Churches. Very quickly an inter-church committee was formed and from this EMBRACE was born.

The official launch of EMBRACE took place on 22nd October 2003 in the Wellington Park Hotel in Belfast. The Rev. Arlington Trotman, Secretary of the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland Commission for Racial Justice, spoke at the launch, welcoming this initiative.

Vision

admin — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:49:44 +0000

EMBRACE is a group of Christians who have come together to promote a positive response to minority ethnic people in Northern Ireland. We seek to equip the church to fulfil its call to welcome the stranger, by providing information, training, resource materials and channels for practical help.
EMBRACE seeks to:

Reflect gospel values of compassion, hospitality and justice
Raise awareness and provide information, resources and training
Respond to those in need by acting as a channel for voluntary assistance
Support people by human rights and welfare advocacy
Network with relevant agencies and groups
Make informed responses on issues of public policy

EMBRACE works in partnership with Edgehill Theological College Reconciliation and Integration Partnership Project. This project is funded in part by the European Regional Development Fund under the Peace III Programme.

Edgehill Reconciliation Programme Special EU Programmes

Practical Projects

jill — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 13:39:40 +0000

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Matthew 25: 35-36

EMBRACE facilitates others in responding to people who have practical needs. The group does not help people directly but networks with other specialist groups such as the Simon Community, Homeplus, the Welcome Organisation, the Belfast-based Refugee Action Group (RAG) and the Northern Ireland Community of Refugees and Asylum Seekers (NICRAS).

EMBRACE Prayer Group

jill — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 13:47:22 +0000

We believe that prayer has a positive impact on the lives of others and opens our hearts and minds to the needs of people around us. To help guide our prayers EMBRACE prepares a monthly prayer sheet, themed on different aspects of migration and welcome. If you would like to join the prayer group and receive the prayer sheet by email each month or would like to know more about the prayer group, please contact Jenna at jenna@embraceni.org.

EMBRACE On the Street

jill — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 09:48:20 +0000

Migrant destitution
Migrant workers who lose their jobs, or whose contracts have ended, may end up on the streets, as most have no immediate right to full welfare benefits, may have been living in accommodation tied to their job, and have probably underestimated the local cost of living. With no means of support they can quickly become destitute.
See also BBC news item from Dec 2008 here

A practical response
In 2006, EMBRACE working alongside several Belfast churches and community organisations who work with homeless people, set up the On the Street project. This initiative raises awareness of migrant destitution and offers a positive response through the donation and distribution of clothing, bedding, toiletries and foodstuffs to those on the street and in hostels, both local and migrant people.

Homelessness charities have observed that with early support it is relatively easy to get destitute foreign nationals back into jobs before they slip into a cycle of severe social problems. So, in some cases money has provided a couple of nights in a hostel to make it easier for people to get back into work quickly.

Get involved
If you or your church would like to collect and donate goods to this project please contact us for more information including the latest list of items required.

Information Sheets
Summary Sheets providing information on migrant destitution and the On the Street project are available to view and download below, There is also a collection poster for churches and groups involved in the project.
on the street flier INFORMATION
on the street COLLECTION POSTER

EMBRACE Emergency Fund

jill — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:28:49 +0000

Money raised by this fund has been used in a number of ways. Examples include assisting destitute foreign nationals who have needed to return home urgently, and sending on the belongings of people who have been removed to their own country following detention at the end of their asylum cases. Others have been helped off the streets by the payment of a few nights hostel fees where no other funds were available.
See EMBRACE Funding for more information or contact us for further details.
A summary of how the fund was used in the year 08 – 09 can be viewed here.
We have a number of criteria which must be met before funds are released. If you would like information on these please contact our office. In every case we do not work directly with individuals but by referral from reputable groups such as homelessness or refugee charities.

Advocacy

jill — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 13:09:18 +0000

EMBRACE seeks to stand alongside minority ethnic people, immigrants and those seeking asylum in matters of human rights; this may involve anti-racism training and taking part in events which raise awareness of issues relating to the welfare and rights of immigrant people. It may also mean communicating their situation and needs, and highlighting concerns in areas such as housing, education, language support, health and detention to the appropriate decision makers in local and national government.

EMBRACE Funding

jill — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:03:51 +0000

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.

jill — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:43:39 +0000

EMBRACE seeks to provide information through its Newsletter, annual Information Update and other materials. Hard copies of EMBRACE publications can be obtained from our office, and electronic versions can be selected from the list below: