Restore campaign for increase in Asylum Support Payments

‘Restore,’ a project of Birmingham Churches Together, aims to welcome, include and assist the integration of refugees and those seeking sanctuary from persecution. Restore works to achieve this through, befriending, social activities, equipping refugees for work, advocacy and awareness-raising.

The Restore staff team (Jeremy, Rachel, Andy and Geraldine) is celebrating that, since the launch of its temporary remote befriending scheme which was launched on 1 April 2020, 23 new remote befriending matches have been made. A further cause for celebration was the fact the supporters raised over £2,700 for the work by taking part in the recent 2.6 Challenge.

One of Restore’s priorities at present is to request the Government for an increase in the amount of money that asylum seekers receive. The Restore team believe that living on an allowance of £5.39 a day is a challenge for asylum seekers in normal circumstances, let alone during the current challenges presented by the current lockdown.

This campaign is urging the Home Secretary to:
a) increase Asylum Support payments by £20 per week during Covid-19 – in line with the £20 weekly increase to Universal Credit
b) increase Asylum Support payments to 70% of Universal Credit on a permanent basis

The Restore team is asking all to support the campaign. Full details can be found HERE. For an introduction to the work of Restore, click HERE.