Welcome to the first edition of the Migration Yorkshire VCS update!
Please see below for updates on current issues, along with upcoming events, research and consultations, funding opportunities and job vacancies, or use these quick links to see the sections you're most interested in:
eVisas
The Home Office have released the following advice:
With immediate effect, the Home Office dedicated resolution centre contact number 0300 123 2085 is available for all organisations supporting a vulnerable eVisa customer.
Line opening times: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.00pm All times are UK local time. The contact centre is closed on bank holidays. This number remains a dedicated line for supporting organisations and is not for members of the general public.
You can call the Resolution Centre for general enquiries about:
- General eVisa Information:
- Who is in scope
- Travelling with an eVisa
- Progress updates for known tech issues
- Scams/unofficial routes
- Referring customers elsewhere if not eVisa related
- UKVI Account registration:
- How to register for UKVI account
- Length of time to process
- Accessing eVisa in UKVI Account:
- How to use an eVisa
- How to view status
- How to update your details in the UKVI Account
Asylum
Migrant Help have recently circulated their November/December newsletter.
Hong Kong
Migration Yorkshire’s Hong Kong Hub is an online platform for Hongkongers on the British Nationals (Overseas) visa - or BN(O) - settling in the Yorkshire and Humber region. It contains lots of useful information and signposting options available to help new arrivals thrive in their local communities.
Any questions about the Hub and Hong Kong BN(O) work in the region can be directed to hk@migrationyorkshire.org.uk
Ukraine
The Ukrainian Permission Extension scheme opens Tuesday 4 February.
Full details about the Ukrainian Permission Extension can be found here on the GOV.UK website
This enables anyone from Ukraine who arrived on one of the three schemes to an additional 18 months leave. They can only apply when they have 28 days left on their current visa.
It will be free to apply. You will need to make an application online. If your application is successful, you will be able to continue to live, work and study in the UK and access public funds.
Guidance was updated on 31 January, to reflect the changes to sponsor eligibility requirements to enable a parent or legal guardian with permission under any of the Ukraine Schemes to sponsor their child under the HFU scheme
Apply for a visa under the Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme - GOV.UK
EU nationals
The Home Office has started the process of automatic conversion of pre-settled to settled status for EU nationals approaching the end of their leave, with first grants of settled status expected at the end of January 2025. The rollout of the process is phased, initially starting with adults and expanding to children and non-EU nationals later in the year. Alongside, the Home Office is considering next steps for those pre-settled status holders who no longer meet the conditions of their status.
Research and consultations
Migrant Women in Business: Online report launch - Thursday 13 February
Leeds University Business School and Migration Yorkshire invite you to a report launch event to share the outcomes, recommendations, and next steps of the Migrant Women in Business project, funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
The launch will take place online on Thursday 13 February 13 from 1pm to 2.30pm. You can register for the Migrant Women in Business report launch via this Eventbrite page.
The project supported 25 aspiring migrant women entrepreneurs in West Yorkshire between November 2023 and August 2024. This pioneering initiative was led by Migration Yorkshire in partnership with Leeds University Business School, The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network (TERN) and Skylight Ventures.
The project has been endorsed by Fatima Khan-Shah, West Yorkshire's first ever Inclusivity Champion, who will open the event. We will also hear from some of our amazing graduates as they share their inspiring journeys.
Additionally, contributors to the report will discuss their insights, including:
- Jon Brunton, Growth Hub Manager, Hull & East Yorkshire Business, Growth and Skills Hub
- Isobelle Ford, Strategy & Partnerships Director, Skylight Ventures
- Fred Kastner, Co-founder, Social Innovation Director at TERN (The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network)
- Dr Andrew Mycock, Chief Policy Fellow of the Yorkshire and Humber Policy Engagement and Research Network
- Prof Monder Ram, OBE, Director of the Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CREME) / Aston University
- Dr Lorna Treanor, Associate Professor in Entrepreneurship & Innovation (University of Nottingham), President of Institute for Small Business & Entrepreneurship (ISBE).
The event will take place on Microsoft Teams. Upon registration, you will receive the joining link, followed by details of the event agenda. If you have any access requirements, please email ewa.lelontko@migrationyorkshire.org.uk.
We look forward to seeing you at the launch!
Call for evidence - Administrative Justice Committee:
Please see below from Asylum Support Appeals Project:
Apologies to those of you who already know about this, and for cross posting, but we thought we would flag the call for evidence from the Administrative Justice Committee on digital court reform and working with those who are disadvantaged.
Please read the first news item via this link which then provides hyperlinks to the consultation document and other relevant reports.
The deadline to respond is Monday 10 February 2025 at 5pm.
The AJC is an advisory body to the government, so what they recommend gets fed into government policy.
This survey is relevant to anyone who has either gone through an appeals process themselves or is helping people submit appeals. the call for evidence covers all appeals to any tribunal but obviously we are responding from the point of view of AST appeals (appeals to the asylum support tribunal on s95/s4 decisions).
Funding opportunities
Please see below from Migration Exchange:
We are pleased to let you know that Shaping the Future: a fund to support leadership development of the migration sector, is now open for applications.
We know that the UK refugee and migration sector faces unprecedented challenges in the current political, economic, and social landscape. A strategic approach to leadership development is crucial to sustain impact and support the refugee and migration sector to bring about transformative change.
The Shaping the Future Fund seeks to bolster the leadership capacity and capability of organisations and networks in the refugee and migration sector. It aims to promote a holistic approach to leadership development, emphasising anti-oppressive practices, wellbeing, and sustainability while leveraging the inherent strengths found in field practice.
The application process is open now and closes on 12 March 2025 at 5:00 pm. You can find more detailed information on our website, LinkedIn page and blog.
Visit our website for all the details and read the latest blog by Marchu Belete, our Co-Director.
We will also be holding a couple of informative webinars about the fund. The first one will take place on the 11 February 2025, please register if you would like to join.
Job Vacancies
Job Opportunity at City of Sanctuary Sheffield:
City of Sanctuary Sheffield are recruiting a Drop in manager.
To apply, please send the following to vacancies@sheffield.cityofsanctuary.org:
- A covering letter (no more than 2 pages long). In this letter:
-
- Say why you are applying for the job.
- Tell us how you meet the job requirements detailed in the person specification. Give practical examples of what you have done that meets the requirements.
- A brief summary of the work and volunteering you have done or a short CV.
- Name, phone number, and email addresses of two references, at least one of whom can comment on recent work or volunteer experience.
A free preparation session will be run by the New Beginnings team at Voluntary Action Sheffield. This will be open to anyone applying for the role to learn a bit more about the job and get support with their application. The session will run towards the end of February at The Sanctuary – exact date is to be confirmed.
Closing date for applications is 5pm on Thursday 27 February.
The interview will be held in March.
Operations Manager - new part-time role at RAMP
RAMP are looking for a part-time Operations Manager to develop and manage their key processes (finance, HR, procurement, IT, risk management, learning etc) as they grow.
They would ideally ideally like to find someone with strong experience across a range of organisations; passionate about improving the public debate on immigration and asylum; and now looking for a flexible role based in either London or Manchester where they can support a small organisation to develop and flourish.
The role is permanent, for three days per week at £40 - 42K plus benefits, pro rata. Applications close at 4pm on Wednesday 12 February.
Full details are on the RAMP website. Please drop them a line if you have any questions and share with anyone who you think could be a good fit.
Upcoming events
Police Cyber Clinic - Bradford
West Yorkshire Police are hosting a Free Police Cyber Clinic in Bradford, providing Cyber Protect Advice to small to medium sized businesses, charities and the education sector.
- Thursday 20th February (9:30am – 1pm)
- Morrisons Head Office, Hillmore House, Gain Lane, Bradford, BD3 7DL
Police Cyber Clinics (PCC) are an initiative run by the Yorkshire & Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU) Regional Cyber Crime Unit (RCCU) Prevent / Protect team.
The PCC events run as a single session between 9:30am and 1:15pm. PCCs are FREE cybercrime awareness events for small and medium organisations (SMEs, including businesses, charities and non-profit organisations and education sector).
The PCCs consist of a series of short presentations, talks from cyber security professionals, networking opportunities at interactive networking stalls and engaging exercises (Cyber Escape Rooms) to improve delegates’ knowledge and understanding of cybercrime and how it could affect their organisation.
Delegates will also learn all about the Police led cyber security products and services that SME's can access for free to further protect their organisation from cybercrime.
The PCC sessions are FREE to all members of the public to attend and are primarily delivered by the RCCU Cyber Prevent / Protect officers & staff (with assistance from the force CCU officers & staff) in conjunction with our close partners namely; Police Cyber Alarm (PCA) & North East Business Resilience Centre (NEBRC).
There will also be an input from NormCyber, who are an NCSC Assured Cyber Incident Response company. There will also be an opportunity for delegates to see our Cyber Blue Line (CBL) community engagement vehicle in action.
Refugee Week 2025 Conference: Programme Announcement
Please see below from Counterpoint Arts:
We would love to invite you to the upcoming Refugee Week Conference! Please do join us and feel free to invite any of your groups, colleagues, friends interested in taking part in this year's festival which will celebrate "Community as a Superpower!"
Details below: Date: Wednesday 26 February 2025 (online) Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm
Register your free place
- Hosts and special guests including Dima Mekdad, Hiba Elhindi from Sudafest and more!
- Global Context: Quick fire talks on importance of Refugee Week and current global context with Enver Solomon (Refugee Council) followed by Vicky Tennant (UNHCR).
- Musical Performances featuring traditional music by Sudanese performer Dafaallah Elhaj Ali Mustafa Salim and contemporary artist Etaf
- Artwork & Moomins: Launch of this year's resources, plus meet the artist behind this year’s Refugee Week artwork and learn how to get involved with Moomin 80 celebrations
- Power of Film: A presentation on power of film as a tool for social change with Other Cinemas and how to take part in this year's free Refugee Week Film Programme
- Storytelling & Media: with Elahe Ziai from IMIX
- Refugee Week Portugal: Learn about the launch of Refugee Week in Portugal and growing international movement with artists MoYah & Carlota Matos.
- And more! (including optional Networking!)
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