AVID
The Association of Visitors to Immigration Detainees
Box 1496 Oxford OX4 9DY Phone 01865 250690
Registered UK Charity Number 1063784
Patrons: Belinda Allan, Colin Firth, John Scampion
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Members include: Asylum Welcome (Oxford), Cambridge Oakington Concern, Dover Visiting Group, Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group, Guildford Visiting Group, Haslar Visitors Group, Jesuit Refugee Service, Lindholme Visitors Group, London Detainee Support Group, National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns, Refugee Action, Scottish Refugee Visiting Scheme, Terrence Higgins Trust, Wandsworth Detainee Visiting Group, Winchester Visitors Group and the Yarl's Wood Visiting Group.
This site is designed and maintained by Michael Woolley Site statistics
All material on this site is copyright © The Association of Visitors to Immigration Detainees 2001
Mission Statement
To support individuals and groups of visitors to detainees by encouraging and enabling them to reach more detainees, more effectively.
To be the voice of visitors and detainees to the Government, by collating and communicating information in order to help define and implement best practice.
To be the lead organisation and model for tackling these issues in the United Kingdom and internationally.
Founded in 1994, AVID is the national umbrella charity for groups visiting immigration detainees. There are 2724 spaces in the UK for people to be detained. The target figure announced by the current Government is 4000.
AVID’s role is to support individuals and groups of visitors who visit some of those detained. Often they are the only person who is not an official and are seen as a lifeline by confused, anxious, frightened people. Training visitors how to support people in detention, providing regular information and networking opportunities is how enable visitors to do their work. Our Handbook for Visitors is available to all and is regularly updated. Through contact with individual detainees, visitors and groups, issues are voiced and raised at a national level. All the affiliated groups are independent but work with AVID to spread good practice.
Immigration detainees can be:
§ asylum seekers who have arrived legally and whose claims are being investigated;
§ people who have not arrived legally;
§ overstayers who have not returned when their visa expired;
§ criminals awaiting deportation;
§ rejected asylum seekers awaiting removal
In many cases the categories overlap: an illegal entrant or overstayer may also be an asylum seeker. They are detained on the order of an immigration officer and some spend years incarcerated. Some asylum seekers are also held in prisons, although pressure on prisons is resulting in their movement into the detention system. Those still held are suspected “troublemakers” and have no right of appeal against that label.
They have the right to apply for bail but this can be difficult for those who may have left their own country in haste, who may not speak any English and who may very well not have any contacts at all in Britain let alone ones prepared and able to stand as sureties.
There are 'Detention Centres' at Campsfield (Oxfordshire), Dungavel House (Scotland, near Glasgow), Tinsley House (Gatwick) and Oakington (Cambridgeshire), and at Harmondsworth and Colnbrook both near Heathrow. Following the fire in 2002, half of Yarl’s Wood (Bedford) has reopened. Three prisons, at Haslar, Dover and Lindholme were reclassified as Detention Centres on 8th February 2002 but are still operated by the prison service. All Detention Centres are now known as Removal Centres.
Our Values
The work of AVID is underpinned by a shared belief in our mutual responsibility as citizens for the rights and welfare of everyone in this country, in particular:
The organisation comprises of people from different faiths and none, and welcomes visitors and members from all cultures and backgrounds.
In working with groups and individuals, AVID encourages visitors to make no judgements about the merits of the cases of detainees but to stand beside them, offering support, while they deal with the authorities.
AVID volunteers and paid staff maintain strict confidentiality in their dealings with visitors and detainees
AVID believes that committed and trained volunteers are central to the success of its work and promotes the highest standards of practice.
What we offer Visitors
§ Information
§ A way for issues to be raised nationally
§ Input into research and monitoring
§ Conferences for networking and discussion
§ Handbook for Visitors
What we offer our Groups
§ Chance to have input into national policy
§ Avenue for responding to government policy and legislation through strength of evidence from case studies
§ Up to date information on national and international events and changes
§ Support on a one to one basis
§ Annual Conference to exchange good practice and solve common problems
We offer support by working with other organisations
§ With the Refugee Council
§ Asylum Rights Campaign
§ Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID)
§ All other UK Non-governmental bodies working with immigrants
§ AVID Website
§ Detention Coalition
§ Exodus
§ European section of the Refugee Council
What we offer individuals and their families
§ Signposting and information about immigration matters
§ AVID Website
§ Funding for needs of some separated children through the AVID Aurora Fund
Who funds our work?
During 2004 and 2005, we would like to thank the following who have financially supported our work:
Ajahma Charitable Trust
Allen Lane Foundation
AW60 Charitable Trust
Farrer and Co.
Helen Tetlow Memorial Fund
Holy Trinity St Mary Church
Lloyds TSB Foundation
Lyndhurst Settlement
Noel Buxton Trust
Servite Sisters’ Charitable Trust Fund
Swan Mountain Trust
WF Southall Trust
Shirley Williams (Baroness Williams of Crosby) speaking about AVID for Radio 4's 'The Week's Good Cause':
Imagine someone who has gone through a traumatic and terrible experience, perhaps being tortured, raped or beaten, who is in a country he or she doesn’t know, whose language he or she may not speak, and who is isolated and afraid.... These people are now in a UK Immigration Removal Centre. A sympathetic visitor would be a lifeline.
AVID, the Association of Visitors to Immigration Detainees supports 400 volunteers who regularly meet with detained refugees and asylum seekers. Volunteers offer one to one support. Some create a close friendship with weekly visits over many months. One detainee said “When I hear my name being called – to receive a visitor – it is a cause for celebration.”
Detainees are often distressed and bewildered. Some are totally alone. A visitor offers friendship and builds up trust, allowing detainees to unburden themselves. Sometimes visitors hear terrible stories of torture or tragedy from the asylum seekers home country. One detainee said: “The visit gave me the opportunity to share the things that worried me, to cry if I needed to. I thank them.”
To do this work, the visitors have to understand the needs of the people they are helping. This is where AVID - The Association of Visitors to Immigration Detainees comes in.
AVID helps volunteers to learn ‘how to listen’ to someone’s story. In one centre last year there were people from 92 different countries. If there isn’t a volunteer with the right language they find other ways to communicate – one visitor drew pictures! AVID helps volunteers to be aware of cultural difference.
AVID encourages volunteers to be aware of the medical needs and the legal processes faced by the detainee. A Handbook containing vital information is given to every volunteer.
It’s not the visitor’s job to judge whether an asylum seekers claim is valid. Others make that decision. Visitors offer the invaluable gift of friendship. This year two of the volunteer groups won the Queens Award for Voluntary Service.
I’m a patron of one of the groups, and I’m deeply impressed by the dedication and commitment of our volunteers. There are desperate places in the world, where men, women and children face unspeakable persecution. The need for our volunteers, with their unique skills and compassion, is very great. Please help us to support them.
You can give now by calling 0800 044 044: that’s 0800 044 044 or by sending a cheque payable to AVID (spelt A-V-I-D) to Freepost BBC Radio 4 Appeal, that’s Freepost BBC Radio 4 Appeal, marking the back of your envelope AVID.
Finally, thank you for your generosity.
Responsibility for the Immigration Service and the Prison Service rest with the Home Office. Responsibility for Asylum Appeals rests with the Department of Constitutional Affairs. Exceptional Leave to Remain is given by the Home Secretary. Approaches to any of these are usually best made via constituency MPs at House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA. They should be specifically asked to approach the relevant person/department.
Some names and addresses:
HOME OFFICE
SECRETARY OF STATE - Rt Hon Jacqui Smith MP
Ms Smith is responsible for the Borders and Immigration Agency and most detention centres
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR JUSTICE AND LORD CHANCELLOR Rt Hon Jack Straw MP
Mr Straw is responsible for the courts and the Prison Service. Some removal centres are run by the Prison Service.
Minister for Asylum and Immigration - Liam Byrne MP (Home Office)
Peel Building, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF Tel: 0870 000 1585
Website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk
Political profile:Liam Byrne joined the Labour Party when he was 15 and was elected to the seat of Birmingham Hodge Hill in the by-election in July 2004. He lives in Birmingham with his wife Sarah and three children.
Liam was educated at Manchester University where he graduated with first class honours and was elected leader of the Student’s Union, and Harvard Business School where he was a Fulbright Scholar. He advised the Labour Party on general election organisation between 1996-7 before managing Labour’s national business campaign.
Liam began his career at Andersen Consulting and worked for NM Rothschilds before starting a venture-backed technology company in 2000. Liam is the author of Local Government Transformed (1996); Information Age Government (1998); New Strategies for Full Employment (2001); and Britain in 2020 (forethought, 2003). He was also co-editor of Reinventing Government Again (2004).
Liam is a member of Amicus, the Christian Socialist Movement, the Fabian Society and was formerly an Associate Fellow of the Social Market Foundation.
Electoral history: Member for Birmingham Lodge Hill since July 2004 by-election
Commons Career: Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of Health (Care Services) 2005 - April 2006; Minister of State, Home Office (Policing, Security and Community Safety) April-May 2006; Minister of State (Immigration) May 2006 -
This profile from Liam Byrne's website and Dod
HOME AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE
April 2008
Member Constituency Party Rt Hon Keith Vaz (Chairman) Leicester East Labour Mr Tom Brake Carshalton and Wallington Liberal Democrats Ms Karen Buck Regent's Park & Kensington North Labour Mr James Clappison Hertsmere Conservative Mrs Ann Cryer Keighley Labour David T. C. Davies Monmouth Conservative Mrs Janet Dean Burton Labour Patrick Mercer Newark Conservative Margaret Moran Luton South Labour Gwyn Prosser Dover Labour Bob Russell Colchester Liberal Democrats Martin Salter Reading West Labour Mr Gary Streeter South West Devon Conservative Mr David Winnick Walsall North Labour
Enquiries about the work of the Committee:Home Affairs Committee, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA Telephone: 020-7219 3276 Fax: 020-7219 2744 E-mail: homeaffcom@parliament.uk
UK BORDERS AGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM April 2008
Chief Executive - Lin Homer
Policy and Strategy (Deputy Chief Executive) - Jonathon SedgewickAssistant Chief Executive - Simon Hayes (acting)
Border Force - Brodie ClarkImmigration Group - Matthew Coats
International Group - Mark Sedwill
Criminality and Detention Group - Vacant
Intelligence - Martin Peach
Human Resources and Organisational Development - Joe Dugdale
Resource Management - Justin Holliday
UKBA Programme - Tamara Finkelstein
Brian Pollet is the head of Detention Services - part of the Criminality and Detention Group.
LOCAL CONSTITUENCY MPs
Write to: House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA To find an MP go to try www.faxyourmp.com
FURTHER INFORMATION
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