Our latest Solidarity Sessions in February in Manchester and Liverpool brought together a great mix of groups and organisations in both cities, and made for really interesting and inspiring events.

Thank you so much to everyone who was able to come along and participate! This is a short report of the events, with links to learning resources and further information.

Manchester session: evidence in asylum and immigration cases

For the February session in Manchester we focused on evidence in asylum and immigration cases. Leah, one of the Right to Remain Legal Education Officers, took the audience through our Toolkit section on evidence – the different types of evidence, what constitutes good evidence, ways to obtain evidence, and how to use it in your case. Following the presentation, we broke into groups to look at a real asylum case study and think about gathering evidence in support.

Our special guests at the session were our best friends WAST, Women Asylum Seekers Together. Many members were present, and we heard an insightful presentation on their work supporting women through the asylum system, campaigning on the issues affecting them and supporting wellbeing through a trauma informed approach. WAST are currently recruiting for a Development Manager – find out more here.

Liverpool session: access to healthcare on Merseyside

In Liverpool the session looked at access to healthcare. This is always a hot topic, and was proposed by participants at the previous Merseyside session. Leah gave an overview of her recent Legal Update on access to healthcare for migrants, published on the Right to Remain website. 

Leah’s introduction sparked a lively debate. A series of hostile environment legislation and rules in recent years has created a complex and challenging system of exclusions and obstacles. People are finding it increasingly difficult to access NHS services, and healthcare professionals are now tasked with border enforcement roles. 

We heard first hand testimony from These Walls Must Fall campaigners of being racially profiled, about being denied services that they are entitled to, about the fear of even trying to access basic healthcare services.

We heard from the caseworkers at SHARe Knowsley about all the time and resources and effort that goes into just getting someone registered with a GP.

We heard from hospital doctors in the meeting about how the hostile environment affects their duty to provide medical care, and the impact on morale of the staff. But they also told the meeting about the growing unrest among healthcare workers, and a determination to get involved in tackling the situation.

Patients Not Passports: Merseyside relaunch

Following the discussion, we heard from local activists with Patients Not Passports, the network dedicated to helping people to access their healthcare rights, and campaigning for free healthcare for all.

There was great support in the meeting for Patients not Passports, with people keen to get involved, and an organising meeting was arranged. If you’d like to be involved, or you’d like further information, see the details below:

About the Solidarity Sessions

Right to Remain is running this programme of Solidarity Sessions with local These Walls Must Fall campaigners in Manchester and Liverpool. The idea is to hold a regular space to meet each other, share information, and discuss how we are responding locally to the government’s increasingly beyond-hostile environment.

These sessions are free, and open to all organisations, groups and individuals involved in migrant support and solidarity. For news about the sessions, keep an eye on the Right to Remain social media, or sign up to the newsletter.