News & Events

Events

All the latest AVID events, for our members and beyond....

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Immigration Statistics: Year ending June 2021

The Home Office has released its statistics on immigration detention for the year up unti...

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Joint letter to the Home Secretary calling for action to stand with Afghan refugees

We joined more than 100 charities and human rights organisations in writing to the Home S...

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Annual Report 2020

In 2020, people in detention suddenly became more isolated than ever, as the pandemic beg...

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Why AVID does not support the Nationality and Borders Bill

On Monday, the Home Secretary’s Nationality and Borders Bill had its second reading...

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“So important to know your rights”: An interview about immigration detention and ‘foreign national’ prisons

This blog was originally published as part of Good Vibrations' Creative Justice blog ...

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AVID Detention Handbook

Available now Are you supporting someone held in immigration detention, or want to know m...

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Immigration Statistics: Year ending March 2021

The Home Office has released its statistics on immigration detention for the year up unti...

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Immigration policy should reflect our communities of welcome

The grassroots organisations in our network build communities of welcome to support peopl...

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Get fit and show solidarity with people in detention by joining AVID's 5k May challenge!

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that the smallest things can make the ...

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Our take on the 'New Plan for Immigration’

Last week, Home Secretary Priti Patel announced a public consultation on her ‘New P...

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2020: A year in detention

Hidden behind and within the global health crisis last year, we observed some worrying ch...

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Detention, an increasingly grey zone

Over the last few months, the Home Office has made a series of increasingly ad hoc change...

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Immigration Statistics 2020

The Home Office has released its statistics on immigration detention in the fourth quarte...

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I climbed Mount Everest for AVID

My name is Rosalind. I’m 8 years old and live on a farm in Devon. I’ve just f...

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Five things visitors to immigration detention need to know about the EU Settlement Scheme

We are all (almost certainly) aware of Brexit, and (probably) of the fact that EU nationa...

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UK to expand detention estate despite promised reform

UK to open first detention centre in seven years Following weeks of rumours, it was confi...

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Guest blog: Volunteering with “foreign” nationals in prison

Clara Della Croce, Prisoner and Detainee Project Co-ordinator at Asylum Welcome, writes a...

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Guest blog: Offering solidarity and signposting to people held in Manchester Residential Short Term Holding Facility

Chris from Manchester Immigration Detention Support Team (MIDST) writes about his experie...

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Temporary accommodation for asylum seekers at Yarl's Wood repeats the worst injustices of detention

We are gravely concerned to hear that the Home Office is using emergency planning regulat...

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Guest blog: From challenging immigration detention to reimagining communities

Eiri Ohtani is a strategist and advocate in the migration and refugee justice field, and ...

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Immigration Minister Responds to our letter calling for the closure of barracks asylum accommodation

On the 8th of December we sent a letter co-signed by more than 60 organisations to the Im...

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Following reports of positive Covid-19 cases at Brook House, AVID calls for the release of all people in detention

In March, we called for an immediate halt to all removals, and for the release of everyon...

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60+ organisations join our call to close the barracks and engage with civil society

Today, we sent a letter to the Immigration Minister and Shadow Home Secretary highlightin...

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5 things visitors should know about charter flights and access to legal advice

Despite a global pandemic, detention and deportations are taking place at an increased pa...

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Statement on conditions exposed at Napier Barracks

Inadequate accommodation and lack of support leaves vulnerable people at risk. We are hea...

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Ten things we've learned about detention in prisons

On Tuesday 10th November we held our AGM followed by a webinar on the subject of immigrat...

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New downloadable leaflet listing support available in detention

Do you work in the community with people at risk of detention? Or in a detention centre? ...

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We need to talk about detention in prison

In April 2020, 340 people, the equivalent of a large detention centre, were still being held in immigration detention in prison.

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Yesterday's tragic deaths in the Channel were preventable

We are absolutely devastated following the deaths of at least four people, including two ...

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Visiting during Covid-19 research launch

Report finds lack of government support leaves migrants extremely vulnerable during the p...

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Trustees Wanted: Morton Hall Detainee Visitors Group

On behalf of Morton Hall Detainee Visitors Group New Trustees Wanted We are looking for n...

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Buy ‘Bordered Lives’ artist’s book or ready-made exhibition and support AVID

We are extremely grateful to the University of Oxford’s Border Criminologies projec...

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Following reports of positive Covid-19 cases at Dungavel IRC, AVID calls for the release of all people in detention

In March, we called for an immediate halt to all removals, and for the release of everyon...

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No return to normal for immigration detention

Read our joint letter to the Home Office Earlier this summer, we signed a joint letter to...

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Crisis of removals: free webinar series for AVID members

Webinar Series on Charter flights, access to legal advice and the risk of transfer to an EU country.

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Cross Border Calls for Release

47 visitors groups in UK & US demand action!

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Event: Visiting and supporting LGBTIQ+ people in immigration detention

New online webinar focusing on supporting LGBTQI+ people in detention. It will be delivered by UKLGIG...

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Morton Hall detention centre to close next year

Another detention centre closure: Morton Hall IRC is to be handed back to HMPPS in summer...

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"They put you there to forget about you"

Will Neal, Detention Outreach Officer at Jesuit Refugee Service UK, highlights that the f...

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Reflections on detention support in the pandemic

Kate Alexander, Director of Scottish Detainee Visitors, shares her thoughts on supporting...

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"Locked up in a locked down country"

Ishiaba Kasonga of Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group considers how people in detention are ...

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Our statement in solidarity

AVID is in solidarity with all those standing up to systemic racism and injustice, follow...

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At least 295 people brought into detention during lockdown

A new paper published today reveals that the Home Office has detained 295 people since th...

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Abuse in immigration detention: inquiry launches

The BBC Panorama documentary Under-cover: Britain’s Immigration Secrets in 2017 unc...

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Detention support organisations call for urgent action to protect individuals at risk during COVID19 crisis

“We are concerned that if the situation is not addressed with some urgency, alongsi...

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AVID calls for immediate release of all held in detention, in response to coronavirus crisis

AVID calls for an immediate halt to all removals, and for the release of all immigration ...

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Training: Managing suicidal conversations

This training will be delivered by the Samaritans, focusing on managing sucidal conversation with vulnerble people in detention...

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AVID statement: in memory of the 39 people who died trying to reach the UK

AVID statement: in memory of the 39 people who died trying to reach the UK Police have re...

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In Solidarity: 25 years of visiting

Celebrating 25 years of volunteer visiting. All are welcome to join us....booking essenti...

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Skill Share: Drop in support: impacts and challenges

Skills Share for AVID members Drop-in support - benefits and challenges for visitors grou...

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Training: Psychological First Aid in Detention Centres

AVID is pleased to let the members know that we are partnering with the Take Action Group...

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Free AVID Training! Age disputed cases in detention: What can visitors do to help?

We are pleased to let our member groups know that we are partnering with the Refugee Coun...

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Latest Detention Statistics Released, Aug 2019

Digging beneath the detention statistics, 2019: what has changed? Official statistics rel...

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Jewish Detention Visitors

AVID’s newest member, Jewish Detention Visitors, have written this guest blog on th...

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Campsfield House to close in May 2019

The Government has announced the closure of Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre i...

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Supporting EU/EEA nationals in immigration detention

Tailored training for visitors - 16th Oct 2018, @18:30.

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AVID AGM on Oct 4th

Annual General Meeting 2018: Detention, Activism, and lived experience All are welcome!

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28 Tales for 28 Days - Refugee Tales!

This month we are sharing this space - with the 28 Tales for 28 Days project!

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AVID is recruiting a Training and Membership Coordinator (Job Share)

Gee Manoharan, AVID's Training and Membership Coordinator, is moving to Birmingham! We are recruiting!

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AVID is recruiting a volunteer fundraiser!

AVID is looking for a volunteer fundraiser.

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AVID looks at Stephen Shaw's Follow-up Report

Opinion on Shaw II - Radical reform is long overdue!

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Training: Statelessness,and how to support as a visitor

Statelessness Awareness Training.

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Walking with Refugee Tales

Blog post on Refugee Tales Walk

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Home Secretary lays Stephen Shaw Review before parliament

The Home Secretary Sajid Javid has today laid before parliament the follow up report to t...

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Refugee Week Blog

Subjecting someone to a period of indefinite detention contrasts utterly with the princip...

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Refugee Tales Walks to Westminster

Refugee Tales is an outreach project of our member group, Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group...

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AVID is looking for volunteer fundraisers!

AVID is fundraising with the Workers Beer Company, which allows charities like us to rais...

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JRS UK Guest Blog Post on Detention

Blog post by Beatrice Grasso, Detention Outreach Manager for JRS UK

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AVID is recruiting a treasurer

AVID is looking to recruit a Treasurer - to support the work of our small, national chari...

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Visiting and Supporting Trafficking / Modern Slavery Survivors in Detention

AVID was delighted to offer a free training for visitors groups from all over the UK. On ...

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Yarl's Wood Hunger Strike Ends, but the Protest Continues

We heard last month that the hunger strike at Yarl’s Wood was to end, but that the ...

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'Digested Read' - Home Affairs Committee Evidence Gathering Session on Immigration Detention

On Tuesday March 20th, the Home Affairs Committee took evidence from Medical Justice, Bai...

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Looking at HMIP Report on Harmondsworth IRC

HMIP has released its report on its 2017 inspection of Harmondsworth Immigration Removal ...

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Immigration Detention Statistics for 2017

The Home Office has released its statistics on immigration detention in the fourth quarte...

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AVID Training on Supporting trafficking/ modern slavery Survivors

Training for visitors!

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Detention Around the Globe

We have collected a selection of news stories and opinion editorials about immigration de...

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New Reports from December – January

Below are the summaries of reports and research studies published in late 2017 British Me...

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Samaritans Training Day

Event: Training for Visitors: Conversation with Vulnerable People As part of the programm...

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Scottish Detainee Visitors - 'Life After Detention'

“I’m not what I was. Sometimes I think that there is a banner on my face, eve...

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Volunteer visitors training on introduction to Judicial review and how it works

AVID was delighted to partner with The Public Law Project (PLP) to offer a free training ...

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AVID Skillshare

We are delighted to launch a new initiative - the AVID skillshare programme - open to all...

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Free Training for volunteer visitors

AVID is pleased to let the members know that we are partnering with the Public Law Projec...

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We are recruiting! Two vacancies: Acting Director, and Information and Communications Role

Two fantastic vacancies with the AVID team! AVID is looking to expand our small team, by ...

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Annual Report 2016Read More »
AVID is seeking a Treasurer

AVID is looking to recruit a Treasurer - to support the work of our small, national chari...

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Indefinite detention and broken promises of reform

Indefinite detention and broken promises of reform AVID statement in response to BBC Pano...

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Support detainees held at Dungavel, Scotland

Scottish Detainee Visitors relies mainly on the work of the volunteers to deliver one to ...

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SOAS Detainee Support: online crowdfunding campaign

SOAS Detainee Support group is a student-led organisation based at the University of Lond...

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SOAS Detainee Support's summer training event - 28th June 2017

SOAS Detainee Support group is a student-led organization based at the University of Lond...

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Hidden Stories film screening and panel discussion: Wednesday 21st June

This event was organised by the Larne House Visitors Group as part of Refugee Week 2017. ...

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Yarl's Wood Befrienders celebrating Refugee Week 2017!

Yarls Wood Befrienders: Three events for Refugee Week 2017 Yarl's Wood Befrienders is...

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Yarl's Wood Befrienders AGM, Wednesday 5th July 2017!

Yarl's Wood Befrienders are holding their annual general meeting on Wednesday 5th Jul...

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Support detainees held at Morton Hall

Morton Hall Visitors group is a small volunteer led visitors group based in Nottingham. T...

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Full House! Verne Visitors Group highlight indefinite detention

Full House! Standing Room only at Verne Visitors Group Awareness Raising Meeting Verne Vi...

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Welfare contract at new Family Unit awarded, as Tinsley gets ready to hold children once more

Comment – Government awards contract for welfare services in Tinsley House Family U...

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Refugee Tales: a call to end indefinite detention

The wonderful Refugee Tales returns in 2017, a series of walks, readings and events that ...

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Treasurer Opportunity

Current Opportunities: Board Member: Treasurer A vacancy has arisen on our Board of Trust...

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Awareness Raising Event: Belfast, 9th Dec

Larne House Visitors Group and Scottish Detainee Visitors: awareness raising event, 9th D...

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Free Training on Unlawful Detention

The Habeas Corpus Project is a law centre providing pro-bono legal representation to immi...

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Larne and Verne visitors in the news!

This month we were pleased to see media coverage of the work of two visitors groups, Larn...

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Dungavel's closure: more questions than answers

The Government has announced plans to close Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre (IRC), in...

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Annual Report 2019

In 2019 we somewhat reluctantly marked our 25th anniversary. It is unfortunately testimon...

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