Gaming against the Hostile Environment

Aim

supporting charities that assist refugees and asylum seekers and tackle the Hostile Environment in the UK through gaming fundraisers.

The UK government’s “Hostile Environment” policies have made it even harder for people within the asylum system to survive, strive and lead dignified and healthy lives. Asylum seekers are exposed to insecurity, re-traumatisation, social isolation, deterioration of mental health, poverty and destitution.

Here in Scotland we have seen the dramatic effect of the inhumane and broken-by-design system clearly in a number of especially horrific and preventable incidents over the last few months. 

Many individuals, communities and organisations fight tirelessly to curb these effects of the Hostile Environment every day and The Gaming Against the Hostile Environment series wants to support some of these groups by raising urgently needed funds.

The first session of Gaming against the Hostile Environment will raise funds for the following groups:

• Glasgow:Ubuntu Women Shelter

Ubuntu Women Shelter is a Glasgow-based charity which started in 2018 with the aim of supporting women facing forced destitution and dehumanisation by the UK’s immigration system. They are the first specialist service in the UK, run and managed by people with lived experience of migration, asylum or destitution and represent 11 cultures, speak 14 languages and between them have more than 10 years of shared experience supporting destitute women.

Their services include: 

• Providing emergency accommodation needs of women with no recourse to public funds, either through hosting or through their own shelter
• Support for immigration or asylum claims; including court support at tribunals and appeals and providing letters of support for claims
• Advocacy and pastoral support
• Community outreach work, including attending and hosting events with other organisations and women within our communities
• Fundraising
• Running workshops and training sessions

• Edinburgh: SCOREscotland

Strengthening Communities for Race Equality Scotland - SCOREscotland is a social justice organisation based in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh.

• London: Hopetowns

The London-based Hopetowns project emerged from the solidarity and support structures of the Calais ‘Jungle’ camp in northern France. Spearheaded by one of the former Calais camp community leaders, Hopetowns aims to support the successful integration and well-being of refugees into British society, by starting at the early stage of an individual’s asylum process.

Their services include:

• Language learning and communication skills
• Social events and emotional support
• Administrative support, forms and interpretation

This project successfully funded on 2nd November 2020