The main news bit is below, the newsletter has more information on events such as a "joint Faith Week Against Fracking...
This January we welcomed Tatiana Garavito to the team as the Sanctuary Everywhere Programme Manager. She joins Quaker Peace & Social Witness to support more than 50 Sanctuary Meetings, establish Sanctuary Action Groups, and campaign for the changes outlined in our new Sanctuary Everywhere Manifesto. In a few short weeks she has twice appeared on national broadcast news to speak about All Women Count and migrant rights in the UK's 'hostile environment'. Read her blog post about the work here. Britain is the only country in Europe that detains people indefinitely – up to six years – without trial. Quakers in Britain is one of a handful of charities that is now actively campaigning to close detention centres in the UK for good.
Individual Quakers are responding too, by upholding activists who blockaded a deportation flight, and who now face the charge of terrorism in court. Meetings in the Sanctuary network are welcoming people who seek asylum into their homes, and taking steps to guarantee bail for people locked up in detention centres.
We've also been inspired by the fundraising efforts of Young Friends in Ullswater, Cumbria, who canoed nine miles in a Force 5 gale to raise £4000 for the UN Human Rights Council. Please read and share their written account of how they came to undertake the action, and how their meeting took care to support them in their witness
The multigenerational
group canoed through wind, cold and rain to meet their fundraising target.
Photo: Penrith Quaker Youth and Children’s Meeting
Photo: Penrith Quaker Youth and Children’s Meeting
