Hello
Immigration, asylum and refuge are often gritty subjects to cover. Our focus this year with the New Arrivals series has certainly turned up some depressing truths about the hopes, fears and setbacks of life as a refugee in western Europe.
But as we wend our way towards the festive season, we want to turn the focus onto the unsung heroes trying to make a difference, however small, to the lives of those caught in the unforgiving trap of a sometimes kafkaesque asylum system.
Political correspondent Jessica Elgot took some time out from Westminster to find out more about a south London school that doesn’t just teach the kids: it feeds the parents too. And supports them in their immigration cases.
It has even been known to find furniture and clothing for the most desperate cases - people who have no recourse to public funds.
Throughout the year, the project has always sought to find people who are seeking to make life a bit less tough for the new arrivals: the Welsh village that opened its arms to a Syrian family; the British hosts finding room in their homes for refugees; the volunteers who are helping our protagonist Said Norzai through the asylum maze (Said’s appeal has been deferred to April 2018 and we will report on the outcome then.
But we remain sober about the prospects for asylum seekers in the current climate and concerned about the baffling procedures they face. We intend to scrutinise these procedures very closely in the new year and hope you will continue to follow and support our work.
In the meantime, can I wish you all a very happy Christmas, and all the best for 2018
Mark Rice-Oxley
Head of special projects
The Guardian
