The paper is very professionally produced and contains a varied selection of articles, some of them informative, some thought provoking, others moving and others entertaining. A copy of last year’s paper can be found here: http://en.calameo.com/read/0003033661f734f664a13.

15,000 copies will be published, and will be free for people to pick up and take home. We hope to reach a very broad audience, and are therefore requesting the help of groups and individuals to help us distribute the paper. We will be making it available in as many doctors’ surgeries, shops, hairdressers and churches as possible, however any additional assistance would be very much appreciated. If any groups have their own venues and are willing to display the paper please could they let us know and we will arrange for copies to be delivered. We can also arrange for copies to be made available at the Volunteer Centre.

Refugee Week 2011 will be 18th-25th June and will bring together a range of community events and activities, all of which will be listed in the paper. If anyone would like to get involved with distributing the Beyond Borders newspaper or helping with any other aspect of the festival please contact me, Juliet Line on 07903114248 or at juliet@culturebox.org

See also: Breaking Borders event – music, poetry, dance and more.

In conjunction with Hyson Green Youth Club and New Art Exchange.

Come down for a spectacular evening of live music, dance, poetry, visual arts, information, international cuisine…and fun!

We will have an afternoon of FREE dance, music and arts workshops:

First at… New Art Exchange 2pm – 5pm including… Capoeira Brazilian Dance African Dance Drumming Scrap art
Then at… Hyson Green Youth Club 5.30pm – 7.30pm – Kurdish Dance African Storytelling Multi-cultural music

Then an evening of live performance…

BREAKING BORDERS 2011 8pm – 1am

Music

OGGA KATTALOG AND THE GENTLEMEN BANA – Afro-funk to get you dancing…
AISTAGUCA – Balkan Gypsy Wedding band
NGOMA – Zimbabwean sounds, Afro-pop fusion…
UNIQUE WORLD – International music collective feat. Sami Haque
LOUIS CYPHER – First Blood fam.
LOST PROPERTY – Local hip-hop collective
PETRICA BISTRAN – Acoustic Romanian sounds
BLACK FEATHER – Acoustic improvisations

Also live poetry from:

Takunda Chaurura Chingombe
Teodora Todorova
Petrica Bistran
Bessie Ndlovu

Dance…

Traditional Mongolian Dance – Gantuya and Khaliun

Also a range of international fresh cooked food will be on sale

There will also be art displays by local / international artists, information stalls, open mic, bar and other exciting things…

Come down!

Suggested donation: £2 (unwaged) / £3 (low-waged / students) / £5 (waged)

ALL EVENTS ARE FREE TO REFUGEES AND ASYLUM-SEEKERS

Small World Cafe Mongolian Night
Thursday, April 21th
Join members of the Nottingham Mongolian community for a Small World Cafe night, doors open at 6.30 pm, film “cafe of the yellow dog” at 8.30pm. Refreshments and snacks available for donations.
Location: The Square Centre
More info: http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=187352707972968

Small World Cafe Kurdish Film Night
Thursday, April 14th at 7:00pm, film at 8pm. Refreshments and snacks available for donations.
Film title: Welcome
Location: The Square Centre
More info: http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=206329959383271

Nottingham Refugee Week 2009 is 13th – 21st June 2009. Click on ‘Read more’ for the full programme or follow this link for some of the highlights, including the ‘Who wants to be a Zimbabwean Billionaire?’ pub quiz at the Poacher on Tues 16th, and a reminder about the Small World Cinema film showing at The Sumac Centre on Wed 17th.

Nottingham City is home to a vibrant and diverse population that includes 65 refugee nationalities that have fled repressive regimes. Each individual and group offers a wealth of talent, skills and fresh ideas that contribute significantly to the economic and cultural life of the city.

Contrary to popular belief no one wants to be a refugee in a strange land, but sometimes people have to run from their homes because they are facing torture, imprisonment or even death. People who are persecuted are faced with no choice but to flee their countries, and only a tiny proportion of these people come to the UK.

Rather than demonising and excluding refugees and migrants we should recognise that each successive wave – from Ireland throughout the last century, and South Asia and the Caribbean since the 50s – have touched us all, challenged our perceptions and enriched the whole of society.

Refugee Week is a UK wide festival that celebrates the great contribution made by refugees to UK life and promotes understanding of why people become refugees. Every year hundreds of arts, cultural and educational events are organised across the UK.

For further information about all the events taking place go to:

http://www.refugeeweek.org.uk/InYourArea/England/East+Midlands/

http://www.nottsrefugeeforum.org.uk

SATURDAY 13TH JUNE

Speak up for refugees in Nottingham

Public Debate at Speakers Corner in the Old Market Square. A range of speakers from both refugee and host communities will be making their contributions to the debate. PLEASE COME DOWN AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT.

Venue: Speakers Corner, Old Market Square. Time: 10.30am

[Flyer attached]

Living Books FREE

Chat to someone from a different culture or faith and find out about their lives and experiences in Nottingham.

Venue: Central Library, Angel Row Time: 12.30 – 3.30pm Contact: Kam Harte on 9152873 for further details.

SUNDAY 14TH JUNE

Nottingham Refugee Week Launch FREE

A celebration of music and culture from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe, Kurdistan and other countries from around the world on the main stage in the Old Market Square from 2 – 4pm. Information and food stalls, children’s art activities and face painting from 11am – 5pm. Come down, bring your family and friends and enjoy a fabulous day of free entertainment.

Part of the ‘One World Festival’ weekend 13th & 14th June.
For Saturday’s line-up check out the website

http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1019

A FREE spectacular international programme of dance and world music featuring the best of local artists and national performers in the Old Market Square.
FULL PROGRAMME FOR SUNDAY – ONE WORLD FESTIVAL
11.0 Hoverla Ukrainian Dance Ensemble

11.30 Outre Manche – Traditional European melodies with French, Swiss and English roots

12.00 Nottingham Traditional Irish Set Dancers
12.30 Comhaltas Irish Musicians
13.00 Hoverla Ukrainian Dance Ensemble
13.30 Outre Manche – Traditional European melodies with French, Swiss and English roots

Nottingham Refugee Week Launch (2pm – 4pm)

14.00 Afro Heritage – 10 piece African Dance band

14.30 Durgesh & Alim – Traditional Afghani Music with Indian tables

14.55 Les Elus – 4 piece Congolese band playing a mix of Rumba, Zook, Folk, Gospel and Salsa

15.20 Kurdish duo / trio (tbc)

15.35 Ngoma – 5 piece Zimbabwean Dance band
16.00 Huong Thanh Trio – Traditional Vietnamese music

[Flyer attached]

MONDAY 15TH JUNE

The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)

USA 2008. Dir Ellen Kuras & Thavisouk Phrasavath 96min.
Fleeing the US government’s secret war in Laos, the Phrasavath family took refuge in Brooklyn. Once there, they found themselves in another kind of war. Director Ellen Kuras and refugee co-director Thavisouk Phrasaveth spent 20 years creating this beautiful, Oscar-nominated documentary. www.thebetrayalmovie.com

Venue: Broadway, Broad Street, Hockley NG1 3AL Time: 8.15pm Tickets: £6.20 Adults / £4.50 Concessions. Contact: 0115 952 6611 / www.broadway.org.uk

TUESDAY 16TH JUNE

Learn how to DJ workshops FREE

… and make tunes using technology and cutting edge software. All levels welcome
Venue: SEND Project Studio, Greenway Centre, Trent Lane, Sneinton NG2 4DF Time: 3-6pm (8-14 yrs olds); 7-10pm (14-19 yrs olds) Contact: 0115 9151380 / Email: beats@sendproject.com

Capoeira Angola Special Beginners Dance Sessions FREE

Venue: New Art Exchange, Hyson Green Time: 7:30 – 9:30pm Contact: Just turn up, or for more info ring 07903 114248 (Wear comfortable clothing and light shoes)

Taxi to the Dark Side

US 2007. Dir Alex Gibney. 106min. Certificate 15
This Oscar-winning film is a gripping investigation into the use of torture by the US military as part of its ‘war on terror’. A documentary murder mystery, the film examines the death of an Afghan taxi driver at Bagram Air Base, exposing a worldwide policy of detention that condones torture and ignores human rights.

Venue: Broadway, Broad Street, Hockley NG1 3AL

Quiz Night – Who wants to be a Zimbabwean Billionaire?
Pub Quiz on the Citizen Test
Organised by Nottingham Zimbabwean Community Network
Venue: Lincolnshire Poacher, 161 Mansfield Road NG1 3FR Time: 7.30pm

WEDNESDAY 17TH JUNE

City of Sanctuary Open Day FREE
Speaker: Craig Barnett (The National Organiser) What is the City of Sanctuary movement?
Hear the stories of people seeking sanctuary in Nottingham. How can we, as the host community, help? Get involved as a City of Sanctuary volunteer. Vegetarian food provided
Venue: St Stephens Church, Bobbers Mill Road, Hyson Green Time: 11am – 1pm

Jupiters Dance FILM FREE
Producers: Renaud Barret and Florent de La Tullaye DONATION FOR FOOD
A documentary film set in the ghettos of Kinshasa in the 1970s where street children, beggars, prostitutes and disabled victims of polio, strive to find their daily bread in an urban jungle that has plummeted into poverty and violence. The film shows how music is allowing these disenfranchised Congolese to stand up and be counted. Jupiter’s Dance should be obligatory viewing for all lovers of African music, as well as those who want to admire the defiance of the human spirit in this beleaguered nation.

Venue: SUMAC Centre, 245 Gladstone Street, Forest Fields Time: 7pm vegan food – 7.45pm film

Tickets: Admission free – donation for food. All proceeds to NNRF Tuesday Project For more information: www.smallworldcinema.wordpress.com

La Forteresse (The Fortress) – UK premiere
Switzerland 2008. Dir Fernand Melgar. 104min.
For the first time, a camera looks into the hidden world of a Swiss reception centre for asylum seekers. Awarding it the Golden Leopard, the Locarno festival jury cited ‘a remarkably sensitive film exhibiting profound human intelligence.’ www.laforteresse.ch

Venue: Broadway, Broad Street, Hockley NG1 3AL Time: 8.15pm

THURSDAY 18TH JUNE

Refugee Rights FREE

What are they? How are they under attack? How can they be protected?

Speakers:

Alice Edwards, Lecturer in Refugee & Human Rights Laws, University of Nottingham

Vincent Fox, Solicitor, First Call Immigration Services, Nottingham

Venue: Refugee Forum, The Square Centre, Alfred Street North NG3 1AA Time: 7.30pm followed by Q&A

FRIDAY 19TH JUNE
Rainbow Project Fundraising Dinner

Delicious African and Asian Food served with Caribbean Punch. All funds to support people seeking Asylum and Refuge

Venue: The Vine Community Centre, Bobbers Mill Road, Hyson Green Time: Arrive at 7pm – Eat at 7.30pm

Tickets: £10 / Asylum seekers & refugees free / unwaged & senior citizens (donate if able) Contact: Susannah / Dianne on 0115 9701855 dskerritt@southwell.anglican.org

Cabaret Sorbet
Cabaret Sorbet is an audio-visual live performance night incorporating an eclectic mix of music, dance, illustration, sculpture, spoken word, body art, film projections, and theatre. This month’s event has contributions from international artists / artists in exile.

Venue: The Art Organisation, Station Street Time: 8pm – 12 midnight Ticket: £2 / £3 on the door (bring your own booze)

Contact: Via myspace or facebook by typing Cabaret Sorbet, or email: cabaret-sorbet@live.co.uk or phone Anna 07804497014 / Cabaret Sorbet 07787426271

SATURDAY 20TH JUNE
Family Fun Day FREE
An afternoon of puppet-making, storytelling, dance and art workshops for all the family. FREE and open to all.
Venue: 1st Floor, Central Library, Angel Row Time: 12.30 – 3.30pm Contact: Juliet / Jason on 0115 9151180 or juliet.line@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

TUESDAY 23RD JUNE
No English? No Problem! DONATION

Are you tempted to believe the media when they say that refugees and people seeking asylum don’t want to learn English or integrate or learn about British culture? Come and join us for an upbeat, inspiring exploration of these complex issues. Booking essential! Contact us for more details.

Venue: To be confirmed when you book your place. Time: 3 – 4.30pm Contact: Tel: 0115 9582842 / Email: ncbinotts@ncbi.org.uk

Shut Down H&K and No Borders Nottingham will be holding a demonstration to highlight the link between the arms trade and refugees. According to the UN Refugee Agency, ?armed conflict is now the driving force behind most refugee flows,? and the most devastating weapons are small arms such as rifles and machine guns. [Click on the world to see the familiar cycle].

FULL CIRCLE – from weapons to wars to refugees
JOIN THE DEMONSTRATION in Old Market Square, Nottingham on Saturday 29th November 2008, starts 12:30pm

Nottingham is home to one of the world?s largest small arms producers ? Heckler & Koch. The weapons produced by H&K and other G8 arms companies fuel conflicts in the Global South, forcing millions of people to flee their homes. Some of those refugees end up seeking asylum in Nottingham, where they face a struggle to avoid being deported.

Come and join us on Saturday November 29th at 12:30 on Old Market Square as we call for an end to exporting guns and deporting people. We will be holding a die-in to represent the consequences of H&K?s trade, and the horrors from which refugees have fled. Bring drums to make a joyful sound. Shut Down Heckler & Koch! Freedom of movement and the right to remain for all! No guns, no borders!!

Follow Notts Indymedia link to more demo promotion materials, and also for a full report and pictures.

Asylum seeker and refugee destitution has doubled, says trust

Destitution among refused asylum seekers and refugees in Britain has more than doubled in 18 months, according to a report which describes government policy on the issue as “unacceptable”.

The number of children affected has quadrupled and rough sleepers have increased by a third, says the follow-up study by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. The trust prompted a national debate in March last year after revealing how many failed asylum seekers were surviving only through charity and church support. Chaired by the broadcaster and writer Kate Adie, and including Sayeeda Warsi, now Lady Warsi, the Conservative shadow minister for community cohesion, the original inquiry highlighted an “invisible population which can neither go home nor contribute to British society”.
Full article: Martin Wainwright, The Guardian, Thursday July 24, 2008
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/jul/24/i…dpublicservices

Asylum seeker and refugee destitution has doubled, says trust

Destitution among refused asylum seekers and refugees in Britain has more than doubled in 18 months, according to a report which describes government policy on the issue as “unacceptable”.

The number of children affected has quadrupled and rough sleepers have increased by a third, says the follow-up study by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. The trust prompted a national debate in March last year after revealing how many failed asylum seekers were surviving only through charity and church support. Chaired by the broadcaster and writer Kate Adie, and including Sayeeda Warsi, now Lady Warsi, the Conservative shadow minister for community cohesion, the original inquiry highlighted an “invisible population which can neither go home nor contribute to British society”.

Full article: Martin Wainwright, The Guardian, Thursday July 24, 2008
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/jul/24/i…dpublicservices

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In 2006 the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust URCT) commissioned a survey of destitution in Leeds. The survey was designed to inform JRCT’s ‘Inquiry into Destitution Among Refused Asylum Seekers’ The Inquiry report and the accompanying research report were both published in March 2007

Eighteen months on the survey was repeated, with the same agencies over an equivalent period of time. The aim was to assess whether there had been any change to the number of people living destitute in the city.
The findings show that the number of people living destitute in Leeds has risen. The problem is chronic, with more vulnerable people lacking either the right to work or the safety-net of statutory support.
Key Findings
More destitute people in Leeds

Destitution has substantially increased over the last 18 months in Leeds. This impacts on individuals, the agencies who support them and local communities.

331 people were recorded as being destitute during the survey period
(266 accessing services, with 65 dependents), an increase from 118 in 2006.

Visits to support agencies have more than doubled.

A chronic problem

99 people were reported as being destitute for one year or more, and there has been a large increase in people destitute for longer than two years.

The destitute people surveyed came from 35 countries: the largest groups were from Zimbabwe (21 %), Iran (16%) and Eritrea (12%).

Destitute and vulnerable

51 children were recorded as destitute (as dependents of destitute parents), an increase from 13 in the previous survey.

40 people were recorded as sleeping rough, compared with 29 in 2006.

The system is not working

The number of people who are destitute while still in the asylum system has risen under the New Asylum Model introduced in April 2007

The most common reason for people becoming destitute is ‘waiting for Section 4 Support’

The safety net is still tatteredIn ‘Moving On’ the Commissioners offered nine sets of recommendations. All those recommendations remain important, but based on the 2008 research findings we call for the following specific changes:
1. Expect contribution through working
The drain on the system, on families seeking asylum, on local agencies and on communities cannot be sustained. We repeat the 2007 call for:

Asylum seekers to be given a revocable licence to work (or access to the basic goods of food, shelter and healthcare).

2. A better asylum processIn spite of efforts to improve the system, there are still unacceptable problems which contribute directly to destitution. We call for:

Improvements to the arrangements for voluntary return (Section 4 Support) including adequate interim provision.

Improved procedures for people leaving detention.

The asylum process to be more flexible, enabling applicants to build connections and support mechanisms.

Support or licences to work to be withdrawn only when the case is finally resolved in practice, not when it is decided in principle.

3. End the culture of denial
The research shows that children and other vulnerable people are destitute. In modern Britain this is unacceptable and we believe:

UK Borders Agency and Social Services should implement procedures to ensure that no child is refused support and made destitute.

JRCT plans to repeat this survey to measure changes in the patterns of destitution and the impact of policy and procedures. However, the research could only provide a snapshot of the situation in one city and we propose that:

UK Borders Agency (UKBA) should immediately investigate the increase in destitute people accessing organisations in Leeds.

UKBA should publish regular and thorough statistical data relating to asylum seekers and refugees made destitute, refused asylum seekers and removals at the local and regional level.

4. Support for local agencies
Local voluntary and statutory services are over-stretched, often as a result of errors by the asylum system. Those errors must be addressed. Local agencies are fire-fighting and the biggest help would be a shift in national policy. In the meantime we call for:

Government to provide more resources to enable agencies to support people who are destitute.

The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust

The full research report, ‘More Destitution in Leeds’ by Dave Brown, is available from JRCT.Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust,
The Garden House, Water End, York, Y030 6WQ Tel +44 (0)1904 627810
Fax +44 (0) 1904 651990
Email: enquiries@jrct.org.ukhttp://www.jrct.org.uk/JRCT is a charity registered in England and Wales: 210037

End of Bulletin:
Source for this Message:JRCTThe Guardian

THURSDAY 19 JUNE – PUBLIC MEETING

Refugees in a Global Era

Speaker: Phil Marfleet is an activist and co-ordinator of the MA in Refugee Studies at the University of East London

Author of the book ?Refugees in a Global Era? Phil Marfleet explores issues of forced migration in an age of globalisation. Charting the changing patterns of migration and the refugee experience of displacement, flight and the search for asylum, his work discusses the conflicts and contradictions in the global system and the failings of refugee policy in Europe, North America and Australia.

Venue: The Square Centre, Alfred Street North

Time: 7pm

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SATURDAY 21ST JUNE – FUNDRAISING EVENT
International food tasting event
Come and enjoy food and drink from around the world. All proceeds will go towards work with refugees and asylum seekers. Organised by the Rainbow Project.

Venue: The Vine Community Centre, Bobbersmill Road, Hyson Green

Time: 7pm-10pm

Tickets: £20

Contact: Dianne on 07977308905 / dskerritt@southwell.anglican.org

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SUNDAY 22 JUNE

?They Don?t Want to Learn English?

* They?re not interested in integrating* They?d rather sit at home watching satellite TV* How can you be here 7 years and not learn English* My neighbours don?t speak English so how can I get to know them
Come and celebrate and learn more about the issues faced by refugees and people seeking asylum who are English learners.
Venue: Sneinton
Time: 6.15 ? 8pm
Contact: 07905 298137
FREE EVENT