BEACON seeks to address the varied needs of asylum seekers who find themselves in the Bradford district. It is an ecumenical Christian response to the biblical injunction to welcome the stranger; it works with other faith groups and secular agencies to offer care and support to asylum seekers. It aims to encourage and enable the contributions of asylum seekers to the wider community.
BEACON’s current projects are:
- A McKenzie Friend is a member of the public, without formal legal training, who assists an appellant when they have no legal representative, at a time that is often bewildering and full of anxiety. A McKenzie Friend is a volunteer, independent of the court system and the Home Office. For more information, or to make a referral to McKenzie Friends, please email [email protected] or call 07531 576330
- CHAT offers English conversation classes and social activities to people seeking asylum and other non-English speaking members of the community. It is a fun learning environment for those wishing to practise their English conversational skills and allows everyone the chance to get involved. The class is open to all levels and focuses on conversation, building confidence and enjoyment. For more information please email [email protected] or call 07754 228569
- BEACON’s Hosting Project recruits, trains and supports volunteer hosts to provide a home to people seeking asylum who are at risk of destitution. Hosting provides guests with a secure, supportive environment in which they have the opportunity to research and gather the new evidence they need in order to submit a ‘fresh’ asylum claim. These are people who fled extreme trauma in their homelands but who may well have been forced to return to the very situations they fled. For more information, please email [email protected] or call 07505 053149
Update: BEACON’s Hosting project is currently suspended and will be unable to take on any new referrals