Project
The church project from September 2010 to August 2011 is to help asylum seekers in the Tees Valley area.
Other charities supported by Elvet are mentioned at the bottom of the page
Elvet Project 2010 – 2011 “Justice First”
Justice First is a charitable organisation based in the Middlesborough area, working with asylum seekers who have had their applications for asylum rejected.
The organisation was founded some years ago, and funds are required for premises, salaries for one full time worker who has specialist training, and counsellors from a medical organisation in Newcastle. Costs for one years work are estimated at £60000.
A misconception is that asylum seekers are economic migrants from E U countries, coming to the UK for work, and benefits. Most asylum seekers are however from Africa, Ethiopia, Sudan, Iraq, Iran etc, fleeing persecution, conflicts of war/politics, ethnic troubles etc. 50% are female who may have been tortured, mutilated, raped, sexually violated and consequently traumatised.
Applications for refugee status which have been turned down may be referred to Justice First, who will step in to assist with appeals and give support. Each asylum seeker is assigned a caseworker, provided with food and clothing where required, offered therapy if traumatised, and referred for welfare support if needed (supplied by a local charity - The Mary Thompson Fund). Volunteers provide other types of support by caring for children, escorting the asylum seeker to Court and to the Police Station where they are required to register on a regular basis.
Justice First can help these asylum seekers to remain legitimately within the asylum process while the appeal progresses.
We support a different project each year. We alternate between local projects, and overseas projects. From September 2009 to August 2010 we supported The Kwagala Trust. The previous year we supported Beverley School (a Specialist school for children and young people with autism) and the year before street children in Cambodia, supporting work done by Global Care.
We also support charities with a retiring collection after our communion services.