Welcome to my BirthdayThis give me a chance to say something about some very important things

Being a Follower of Jesus – I am aware of his instructions to look after the widows and fatherless, and welcome strangers – hence our desire to help refugees

Maybe you like figures – maybe you don’t but there are some important ones I think people should know• There are around 15.4 million refugees in the world

•  There are an estimated 28.8 million ‘internally displaced people’, those who have left their home but have not crossed an international border (UNHCR, Global Trends 2012 ).

• There were an estimated 193,510 refugees in the UK at the start of 2012

• that’s just 0.33% of the UK population.

• 48% of refugees are women, whilst 46% are under the age of 18.

• The number of applications for asylum, including dependants, was 27,410 in 2012 

80% of refugees are hosted by developing countries (see graphic below)

Most asylum seekers in the UK came from Pakistan, Iran and Sri Lanka in 2012

• Many other asylum applications in recent years have been from people from Afghanistan, Congo, Eritrea, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, China, Sudan and Zimbabwe

• These countries have either recently experienced conflict or have well-documented human rights abuses (UNHCR, 2009).

• A single adult asylum seeker receives £36.62 a week – that’s just £5.23 per day

• Asylum seekers cannot claim mainstream benefits.

• A single unemployed UK citizen of the same age would receive £67.50, plus other benefits they may be able to receive.

• Asylum seekers do not qualify for council housing tenancy or housing benefit.

• Asylum seekers do not have permission to work in the UK. (Home Office, Asylum Support)

Asylum seekers are often kept in detention, despite the fact that claiming asylum is not a crime.

• There are 11 immigration removal centres across the UK (Immigration Removal Centres).

• At the end of 2012, there were 2,685 people in detention, a figure 11% higher than the number recorded at the end of 2011. (Home Office).

• 99 children entered detention in 2011, of which 64 were asylum detainees (Refugee Council).

• Child detention increased from 2011 levels in 2012, primarily due to the increased use of Cedars pre-departure accommodation facility. Between October and December 2012, 61 children entered detention, although it is not clear if all of those were asylum detainees.

Now ask yourself?

• If my family were in danger of death or they could run to another country what would I do?

• If my children were in danger of death or starvation or torture but I found a way to send them out of danger what would I do?

• If my family was living in terrible conditions but a way out was seen what would I do?

Phoenix Community care Charity

•Houses many vulnerable young people

•We make the houses as nice as possible

•We get money to do a lot of these things

•We need some help to upgrade

Can you help today…

What we want to do..• Since the advent of digital TV it has become much more difficult to give the

client in our house good TV reception

• TV is often an important piece of technology as it helps if you don’t have money to go out, and if your knowledge of English is limited, it becomes an essential asset

• To fit one of our 5 bedroom houses with a good TV for each refugee will cost around £2,500

• Currently we have around 30 clients in our houses being looked after by our key workers

•So can you help… I hope so…

James 1:27Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world. 

Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

Adrian Hawkes20th September 2013