BIRCH Network
@birchnetwork.bsky.social
86 followers 170 following 52 posts
BIRCH Network is a volunteer led charity working to harness the enthusiasm of local people to offer friendship and hospitality to people seeking sanctuary www.birchnetwork.org
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Reposted by BIRCH Network
right-to-remain.bsky.social
Interested to write messages of solidarity to ppl in immigration detention? Join @sdvisitors.bsky.social Justice & Peace Scotland, Glasgow Solidarity Stall -18 Oct (The National Day of Solidarity to End Immigration Detention)
tickettailor.com/events/scott...
#nooneisillegal #thesewallsmustfall
birchnetwork.bsky.social
📢📢Job in refugee sector📢📢

Our friends at Journey LGBT+ Asylum Group are recruiting for their first paid post - a Member Coordinator to support their members and volunteers. Find out more here: journeylgbtasylumgroup.co.uk/current-vaca...

Please share widely!
Current vacancies – Journey LGBT+ Asylum Group
journeylgbtasylumgroup.co.uk
Reposted by BIRCH Network
detentionaction.bsky.social
People seeking asylum are given only seven days to challenge their removal to France. Predictably, the system in place to provide legal support for people in detention is failing. Some are unable to obtain legal representation and end up missing crucial deadlines.
Reposted by BIRCH Network
Reposted by BIRCH Network
nicko66.bsky.social
An excellent point. The terms migrant, refugee etc are being used to dehumanise
nicolakellywrites.bsky.social
Every newsroom should have an immigration correspondent.
Reposted by BIRCH Network
africanrainbowfam.bsky.social
We are delighted to share that one of our LGBTIQ+ siblings from Namibia has received their grant of refugee status and a life of security, congratulations Helgano!!!🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️

To support African Rainbow Family use the link in bio
#peopleseekingasylum #AfricanRainbowFamily
Reposted by BIRCH Network
colinyeo.bsky.social
Don Flynn in 2002, in Tough As Old Boots:
Reposted by BIRCH Network
minnierahman.bsky.social
The right to provide vital public services is being stifled by the far-right and by cowardly politicians. We are providing services for all kinds of people and a threat to us is a threat to everyone doing similar work. We will keep going because we believe in the right to care for each other.
phillcole40.bsky.social
More than 150 lawyers and refugee NGOs report being ‘pressured into silence’ by far-right protesters.
At least two groups supporting UK asylum seekers have closed their offices after credible threats to their safety
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
More than 150 lawyers and refugee NGOs report being ‘pressured into silence’ by far-right protesters
At least two groups supporting UK asylum seekers have closed their offices after credible threats to their safety
www.theguardian.com
Reposted by BIRCH Network
migrantsorganise.bsky.social
3/ Legal aid is a vital public service. It's about care, compassion, dignity and justice.

We're connecting lawyers, community groups and social justice movements to demand access to justice.

Check out our campaign page and join us ⬇️

www.migrantsorganise.org/access-to-ju...
Reposted by BIRCH Network
migrantsorganise.bsky.social
🚨 Everyday life has become a maze of complex anti-migrant rules and enforcement.

People need reliable, trusted legal advice but our research shows that trusted, publicly-funded advice has become harder to find.

www.migrantsorganise.org/new-report-t...
New Report! Threadbare: the Quality of Legal Aid - Migrants Organise
New Report! Threadbare: the Quality of Legal Aid - Access to Justice
www.migrantsorganise.org
birchnetwork.bsky.social
This is devasting for all the people that were represented by this firm. We have been in touch with several people who have been affected. The legal aid system urgently needs resourcing to ensure that sanctuary seekers can have representation and a fair chance of succeeding with their asylum claims.
migrantsorganise.bsky.social
Good quality legal advice is essential in navigating the immigration system.

But thousands of isolated people have been forced to turn to false offers of 'support' after decades of legal aid cuts and neglect. We need a fully resourced legal aid system now! 1/ ⬇️

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Immigration law firm making £1.7m in legal aid loses contract over standards
Thousands of asylum seekers left without lawyers after firm took on thousands of cases with just five solicitors
www.theguardian.com
Reposted by BIRCH Network
bordercrim.bsky.social
A growing reliance on militarised policies is eroding fundamental rights and endangering human dignity for noncitizens within the US. Read more in the blog post ⤵️

blogs.law.ox.ac.uk/border-crimi...
Reposted by BIRCH Network
praxisprojects.bsky.social
After years of advocating for family reunification, today Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has suspended all family reunification applications.

As she has pointed out many times before, this announcement will drive more people into the arms of smugglers.
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Home secretary suspends refugee family reunion applications until new, tighter rules are put in place – UK politics live
Yvette Cooper says rules were designed years ago to help families separated by war but are being used in a different way now
www.theguardian.com
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nicolakellywrites.bsky.social
More women and children will die in the Channel as a result of this policy. More kids fleeing war, persecution and torture will be separated from their parents in makeshift camps. More smugglers will gladly take their money. More votes for Reform.

The moral bankruptcy is staggering.
danielsohege.bsky.social
Sorry, but wtaf? This does absolutely nothing but ensure that even more people, including children, have to use irregular crossings, and blocks people who even this government have recognised are refugees from being with their families. This is utterly sickening from Labour. 1/
paulbrand.bsky.social
BREAKING: Yvette Cooper says she is suspending all applications to bring family members to the UK under the asylum system.
Reposted by BIRCH Network
enddbelfast.bsky.social
Labour MPs should resign from the party.

'"In the Home Secretary’s statement, she has stated that she will never seek to stir up chaos, hatred and division. Yet that’s what we’ve seen this summer, with the far-right emboldened because of racism and demonisation in the media and from politicians'
Cooper accused by Labour MP of ‘scapegoating’ migrants over asylum plans
A Labour MP has accused Yvette Cooper of “scapegoating” asylum seekers, as the Home Secretary unveiled reforms to the border security and asylum system.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
birchnetwork.bsky.social
MOBILE PHONES NEEDED

We are desperate for some mobile phones for some of the sanctuary seekers we support.

We are looking for functioning unlocked smart phones.

If you have one, please email [email protected]
Thanks!
Reposted by BIRCH Network
asylummatters.bsky.social
Our leaders have fostered a toxic political climate that's putting people seeking sanctuary at risk.
This can't go on.
It's time for the Government to step up and start keeping people safe.
Reposted by BIRCH Network
migrantsrights.bsky.social
The “One in, One out” agreement will see #migrants arriving in the UK via a “small boat” be returned to France, and in exchange France will send someone else to the UK via a “controlled, safe and legal route.” But there is nothing 'safe' about it.

Read our full analysis: buff.ly/0rYzE3f
birchnetwork.bsky.social
We're proud to join 62 organisations and over 13,750 people urging the Government to end the use of hotels and barges as accommodation for people seeking safety.

Everyone needs somewhere safe to call home.
www.conversationoverborders.org/safe-homes-n...