Christmas lists to Santa, New Year’s resolutions, dreams and aspirations for the next decade… The festive season seems to be a time of Hopin’ and Wishin’ and Prayin’ for change.
So in the seasonal spirit of sharing, we thought we’d whisper our New Year’s wishes to you and give you a wee glimpse of what’s on our Christmas list this year. (We’ve been really good this year, Santa. Honest, we have).
Having a flick through them, it seems that so much of it is about you. Our supporters. People power.
So let’s raise our glasses to Margaret Mead’s assertion that a small group of thoughtful people can change the world as we rock around the tree to Mariah…
“We don’t want a lot for Christmas
There’s just one thing we need
We don’t care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
We just want you to take a stand
More than you could ever know
Make our wishes come true
All we want for Christmas is…
You!”
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all from everyone at Refugee Action.
We’re very much looking forward to more and more people taking action in support of refugees in 2010!
REFUGEE ACTION’S CHRISTMAS LIST AND HOPES FOR THE NEW YEAR
Sandy, our big boss, would like 2010 to see the creation of a movement of people who feel that refugee issues are relevant to their lives and who stand up for refugees and people seeking asylum.
Disha, our Fundraising Manager, would like supporters to spare a thought for destitute asylum seekers when deciding who to send their Christmas donation to this year.
Jill, our Strategic Director, would like the UK to fully honour the Geneva Convention so that all refugees can have their cases fairly determined and so all with a genuine need for protection can be granted asylum.
Sara, our Campaigns Officer, would like asylum support rates to increase with inflation so single parents can afford to buy their kids a Christmas pressie this year. She’d also like Phil Woolas to receive a visit from the ghost of Christmas past and future.
Yemane, our Finance Director, hopes that 2010 will see positive Gift Aid reforms that help all charities.
Sally, Fundraising and Communications Assistant, would like Santa to pop a copy of our Mobiles, Money and Mayhem booklet into every child’s stocking (and every parent’s!).
Musa, one of our refugee spokespeople, would like asylum seekers who have been waiting for years for their cases to be resolved, to be given temporary status allowing them to work and pursue their education and dreams.
Brian, our Trusts and Statutory Fundraising Specialist, would love a generous trust to open up its coffers and fund a new Women’s Wellbeing Project in Manchester.
Kat, our Policy and Information Manager, would like every asylum seeker to see a solicitor before they have their asylum interview, and vouchers and payment cards to be abolished and replaced with cash.
Arianwen, our Assistant to Directors, wishes that all people seeking asylum and refugees have enough winter clothes to keep them warm this year.
Phil, our Project Development Manager, would like no one to be destitute at Christmas or any other time of year and Wolves to get at least 42 points this season.
Esme, our Refugee Awareness Coordinator, would like everyone who’s ever sent her an email to do a Simple Act in support of refugees in 2010. She’d also quite like a new media officer to sit next to her, make her tea and drag her into the 21st century.
Santok, Deputy Manager of our Leicester office, would like UKBA to scrap the current system of making people submit Further Representations in person at Liverpool and allow them to submit postal application instead. This would save people lots of money and unnecessary long journeys.
Julia, our chief press officer, would like to see an accurate portrayal of refugees and asylum seekers across the media in 2010 and hopes that they will give a greater voice to people seeking sanctuary here. She would also like to wish a merry Christmas to all of the people who have told their stories through Refugee Action’s press office this year and who have touched the hearts of our supporters and other members of the public with their courage.
Tags: asylum, asylum seekers, asylum support cuts, Christmas list, Refugee Week, Simple Acts campaign
Posted by Esme Peach