Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 11h

With speakers from @thesewallsmustfall.bsky.social, @gmlawcentre.bsky.social, @catuireland.bsky.social, VVIDY, the Greater Manchester asylum hotels group and more.

Find out more about The World Transformed:
theworldtransformed.org/twt25

The World Transformed // The World Transformed 2025

theworldtransformed.org

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 11h

Join us at The World Transformed this Friday!

Evictions, Raids and Racist Attacks: Resisting Alongside Migrant Communities

This session will explore experiences of housing injustice and racist violence in the asylum system, and how to strengthen our movements of support and solidarity.

Evictions, Raids and Racist Attacks: Resisting Alongside Migrant Communities

Kath Locke - Valerie - M155DD - 10.10.2025

4:30PM – 6PM
As part of the World Transformed

1

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 1d

✔️It also outlines our local and national recommendations for change, that can help to rebuild trust and support local political commitments to welcome, sanctuary and safe, secure homes for all residents of Greater Manchester.

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 1d

This briefing looks at the root causes of the crisis, including the collision of national asylum policies with the erosion of social housing, and how this is fueling homelessness. It also highlights the breakdown of trust between local authorities, voluntary groups, and refugees facing homelessness.

1

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 1d

📒 We have published a new Policy Briefing: Refugee Homelessness in Greater Manchester.

Please read and download the briefing here: gmiau.org/refugee-home...

1 4 1

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 1d

GMIAU Solicitor, Decla Palmer, will be joining Lucy Mair from GCNC in delivering Free Movement training on 29 October.

See below for the details on how to sign up👇

Garden Court North Chambers @gcnchambers.bsky.social · 1d

Garden Court North's Lucy Mair will speak at @freemovement.bsky.social's webinar on 29 October, exploring legal & practical considerations in submitting entry clearance applications for individuals from Gaza seeking to join relatives in the UK.

gcnchambers.co.uk/event/free-m...

Free Movement: Gaza applications and appeals - Garden Court North Chambers

Garden Court North's Lucy Mair will be speaking at Free Movement's webinar about Gazan family reunion cases on 29 October 2025.

gcnchambers.co.uk

2 1

Reposted by Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)

Irene Tsherit @irenetsherit.bsky.social · 1d

Finally!!! The real scandal of the asylum hotels. Why, instead of shining the light on these parasites, months were spent on demonising vulnerable people at their mercy?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Asylum hotel provider makes £180m profit despite claims of inedible food and rationed loo paper

Asylum seekers and charities tell BBC of

www.bbc.co.uk

7 190 430

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 2d

'The Syrian community in the United Kingdom extends its deepest condolences to the Jewish community in Manchester .... We are horrified by this attack, and we stand in full solidarity with our Jewish neighbours as they grieve'

💚Read the full solidarity message from the Syrian community in the UK...

7

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 6d

We at GMIAU are shocked by the horrific attack on the Jewish community in our area, Crumpsall, today. Our condolences and solidarity are with everyone affected.

💚

1 7

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 7d

We're on instagram! www.instagram.com/p/DPRGTYLCKo...

Follow us to keep up to date with our news, insights and publications⭐

3

Reposted by Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)

Garden Court North Chambers @gcnchambers.bsky.social · 7d

(1/3) Yesterday saw Garden Court North & @gmiau.bsky.social come together to host the inaugural North-West Migrants' Rights Conference, a day of humanising, compassionate rhetoric amid such hostility around immigration.

2 1 4

Reposted by Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)

Praxis, for migrants and refugees @praxisprojects.bsky.social · 7d

Keir Starmer's call for unity rings hollow. Under his leadership, rampant racism has gone unchecked.

It's disingenuous to talk about growth & belonging whilst also announcing tougher immigration rules that create a two-tier system and will devastate our economy.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

‘Decency or division’: Britain faces era-defining choice, Keir Starmer warns

Prime minister lambasts Nigel Farage and the politics of Reform in combative Labour conference speech

www.theguardian.com

7 19

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 7d

Thank you again to everyone who organised, attended, spoke, and supported - including Clyde & Co who kindly hosted us. We left feeling energised, proud and hopeful, but most importantly: ready to continue with our work with a real sense of commitment and solidarity, as we always do.

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 7d

You can see a recap of the panels on our page...
📖 Speeches from Daniel Trilling and Julia Savage from Asylum Matters
🏡 housing, support & destitution
📫 Windrush and the hostile environment
📋trafficking
⭐️children - age assessments & best practice
🏷️ reporting, removal and detention
📑 looking ahead

1

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 7d

Yesterday we co-hosted our North West Migrants’ Rights Conference with @gcnchambers.bsky.social . It was an incredible day of conversations, connection and reflection. We’re so grateful to everyone who came, contributed, spoke, and shared their work and experiences - it was inspiring + energising.

1 2

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 7d

Hi Hannah, that sounds so valuable - please send me an email: [email protected] - thank you! :)

1

Reposted by Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)

Garden Court North Chambers @gcnchambers.bsky.social · 7d

Garden Court North's Elizabeth Mottershaw on the Housing, Support & Destitution panel.

GCN co-hosted the Migrants' Rights Conference alongside GMIAU.

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 8d

Panel 1: Housing, support + destitution🏡.

Great to hear from all speakers on: NRPF, homelessness + the political climate.

We have also been lucky to hear from those with lived experience sharing their moving stories of resilience, and the need for change to the housing/hotels accommodation model.

1 1

Reposted by Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)

Anti Trafficking and Labour Exploitation Unit @atleu.bsky.social · 7d

Yesterday, our brilliant Lindsay Cundall spoke at the North West Migrants’ Rights Conference, hosted by @gmiau.bsky.social and @gcnchambers.bsky.social. Events like this remind us why collaboration and solidarity are essential in the fight for justice and dignity for all migrants.

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 8d

Panel 3: Trafficking📫

We're listening to 3 speakers share their outstanding work in modern slavery and immigration across the legal and academic fields.

From sharing their experiences of bringing statregic litigation, and of client’s exploitation, to sharing landmark court cases, and so much more!

2 2

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 8d

To close, we had a final message from the wonderful Julia from Aslyum Matters. A brilliant message of positivity and solidarity as we move forward and continue our work as a collective.

Thank you to everyone to attended & participated today. What a brilliant and inspiring conference. ⭐

3

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 8d

Panel 6: Looking ahead

Finally, we heard from a range of speakers sharing their lived experience & knowledge on family reunification, the current legal landscape/challenges, and what this looks like as we move forward with our work…

It left us on a note of hope, passion, commitment & solidarity!

1 4

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 8d

Panel 5: reporting, detention & removal

We’re now listening to the next brilliant speakers sharing their work in litigation, community organising, advocacy and campaigns. Their insights are incredibly motivating and thought provoking, and remind us why now, more than ever, we need solidarity 💚

1 4

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 8d

Panel 4: Children - age assessments & best practise

Our speakers shared recommendations for best practise for building trust and representing young people seeking safety.

We also shared some of our resources (all available on our website), and heard from an individual from our All4one group.

2 2

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 8d

We are so grateful you joined us today to share your brilliant research, it was incredibly insightful and interesting - thank you! 👏🏼

1

Reposted by Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)

Maayan Niezna @niezna.bsky.social · 8d

As a part of @gmiau.bsky.social panel on trafficking, I shared some of the findings from my research project on the ways migrants workers and victims of trafficking understand labour exploitation, and notions of agency and dignity at work

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 8d

Panel 3: Trafficking📫

We're listening to 3 speakers share their outstanding work in modern slavery and immigration across the legal and academic fields.

From sharing their experiences of bringing statregic litigation, and of client’s exploitation, to sharing landmark court cases, and so much more!

1 1 3

Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) @gmiau.bsky.social · 8d

Panel 3: Trafficking📫

We're listening to 3 speakers share their outstanding work in modern slavery and immigration across the legal and academic fields.

From sharing their experiences of bringing statregic litigation, and of client’s exploitation, to sharing landmark court cases, and so much more!

1 2