The Home Office have responded to the letter from faith leaders about refugee family reunion. Steve Tinning reflects on the issues it raises about principles, policy, and the questions between. A few weeks ago, more than 800 faith leaders from across the UK signed a joint letter to the Home …
Action
Drown out division with A Million Acts of Hope
News reports and social media feeds can often make it feel like the UK is more divided than ever. The voices of those who spread hate and seek to divide communities can seem loud, but they ignore the millions of actions which spread hope and kindness every day, and show what is possible when we come …
Faith leaders say refugee families belong together
Amidst major asylum policy overhaul, 720 bishops, rabbis, church ministers and an imam from UK communities have written to the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, to raise concerns for refugee families. The government has suspended a vital route for partner reunion and for children trying to …
Child poverty: faith leaders call for decisive action
38 senior faith leaders from the five major faith groups represented in the UK – including representatives of the Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Churches – have written to the Prime Minister and Chancellor, urging them to “act now to secure the futures of millions of children.” The letter …
Child poverty: tell your MP it’s time for action
Levels of child poverty in the UK are rising, and set to continue rising. 4.5 million children are currently growing up without access to the essentials of life. But we believe that should and can change. “The impact of growing up in poverty is huge. It affected me physically, mentally and …
Hong Kong BNO visa holders face rule changes
In recent years, thousands of Hongkongers have made the UK their home under the British National (Overseas) visa scheme, launched in 2021. Many have found welcome, friendship, and belonging within our church communities. However, proposals in the recent Immigration White Paper may affect …
Myanmar: Remembering a Forgotten Conflict
Our churches recently issued prayers for Myanmar to mark three years since the 2021 Myanmar coup. For the people of Myanmar, this marks three years of living under repressive military rule. Three years of civil war. Three years of civilians being targeted, injured and brutally killed. Three years …
How can we help Ukraine?
The tragic conflict in Ukraine has swiftly become a crisis on multiple levels. As well as the direct casualties of war, the humanitarian crisis within the country is escalating, as many are trapped in bunkers and underground stations without food and access to fresh water. Over one million people …
Write to your MP in the wake of deaths crossing the Channel – November 2021
We are devastated by the tragic deaths of 27 people attempting to cross the Channel to seek sanctuary in the UK this week. This is yet another warning cry that a compassionate and just asylum system in the UK is urgently needed. Sadly, we know that this is not a one off. To address the dangerous …
Help forced labour go out of fashion
Shopping can be something of a minefield these days. On a rather infrequent clothes-shopping trip, I found myself unsure whether the pair of cotton trousers made in China had been manufactured using forced labour of Uyghurs. There is no easy way to tell. The Better Cotton Initiative does not give …