December 2010
Emergency Fund Christmas Appeal
EMBRACE made an appeal for contributions to the Emergency Fund following severe weather and an increased number of requests for assistance. The generous response to this appeal is greatly appreciated. Emergency Fund Appeal

NICRAS Christmas Party Cancelled The annual Christmas party for people seeking asylum, due to be held on Friday 17th December had to be cancelled because of the heavy snow.

June 2010: EMBRACE hosts events during the Belfast Inclusion Festival
The Inclusion Festival  consists of a wide variety of events hosted by different organisations, held across Belfast during the month of June. This year EMBRACE hosted a Global Cafe at Willowfield Parish Church and a Voices Together Concert at City Church. The cafe provided an opportunity to discuss issues relating to migration whilst the concert celebrated the triumphant harmony of individual voices coming together. Thank you to all who participated, attended and contributed to the Emergency Fund at these events.

May 2010: EMBRACE Spring Meeting focuses on migrant destitution
The Spring Meeting, entitled Destitution & Migration: Who cares?, provided an opportunity to consider the reasons migrant people become destitute and how local agencies are responding. Maura McCallion of the Law Centre provided an overview of the legal and social situation, and Sandra Moore (pictured) of the Welcome Organisation showed the implications of these through a powerful presentation of images and information on homeless people in Belfast. A time to reflect on how the situation could be addressed was followed by a challenge by former moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Rt Rev John Dunlop, to overcome barriers of difference, notice and respond to people.

MAY 2010: EMBRACE Appoints Development Worker
Aneta Dabek, originally from Poland, was appointed Development Worker for EMBRACE. Aneta’s focus will be on building relationships with churches, to learn good practices of welcome and integration, and to share and encourage such initiatives with others.

February 2010: EMBRACE considers a Christian Response to Migration
EMBRACE looked at how churches might respond in welcome to migrant people in their locality at two Information Sharing evenings held in Belfast and in Ballymena. There was also information on EMBRACE’s involement with other groups and directly with Roma people and other vulnerable migrants, including people seeking asylum.

January 2010: EMBRACE hosts ‘Still a Place of Sanctuary’
In response to the UK Government’s consultation on changes to the asylum support system, EMBRACE invited interested parties to a morning discussion event. Liz Griffiths, Policy Officer at the Law Centre NI was the main speaker and provided information on the system and what the changes might mean.

January 2010: EMBRACE produces revised ‘Who’s who’ leaflet
A new revised edition of the flier ‘Who’s who? who’s here?’ has been prepared. The leaflet includes summary information on people seeking asylum and migrant workers. Hard copies are available free on request, and the flier can be downloaded from the EMBRACE resources page of this website.