Facing the challenges of immigration detention
AVID, the Association of Visitors to Immigration Detainees, is a registered charity founded in 1994 in response to the increase in numbers of individuals being detained under UK Immigration Acts. As the national organisation for those visiting immigration detainees, AVID's role is to provide support to individuals and groups who visit some of those detained across the UK.
Visitors are often the only person a detainee sees who is not an official, and can be seen as a lifeline- many detainees feel isolated, confused, angry and frightened. We support visitors to do their work through providing training and advice in how to support people in detention as well as providing regular information and networking opportunities. We produce a Handbook For Visitors which is available to all and regularly updated. We also provide advocacy and support to visitors groups and ensure that through contact with individual detainees, visitors and groups, issues are voiced and raised at the national level.
Visitors groups are all independent and work with AVID to share best practice.
LATEST NEWS: OAKINGTON IRC TO CLOSE ON THE 12th NOVEMBER 2010. Click here for details.
Volunteer Vacancy: AVID is recruiting a part time volunteer Information Officer. Full details at Work with us to the left
Message from our Patron:
"Often the volunteer visitor is the only person a detainee can turn to for support in confidence. I am extremely proud to be associated with AVID, the charity which works with those volunteers - people who work with immigration detainees, and provides information, training and advocacy support to some 20 groups spread across the country. AVID believes that detainees should have the same basic human rights as the rest of us, and is working to make that happen." Colin Firth
CONTACT AVID:
You can contact AVID's Director, Ali McGinley, using the 'Contact AVID' link to the left, or by calling 0207 281 0533 or 07900 196 131. **Please note our new address below**
Our Annual Report 2009/10 is now available here
Patrons: Belinda Allen, Colin Firth, Lord David Ramsbotham GCB CBE, and John Scampion CBE
Charity Address: Archway Resource Centre, 1b Waterlow Road, London N19 5NJ
Registered Charity Number: 1063784
