Children’s Asylum Centre ‘too welcoming’ 😢

Baggs, i think you are missing the point.
the reminder that asylum seekers are not allowed to work is made in reply to people complaining that such people receive subsistence allowance and/or basic accommodation.
some ignorant people even say, why don't they support themselves.
so it is pointed out that legally they cannot.
i knew one who declined the govt subsistence and got by on charity, staying with other people and giving domestic help.
like a kind of unpaid au pair, sofa surfing.
most asylum seekers would prefer to work.
she now has refugee status, after several years of legal process and great stress, and has been working since she got her permit.

Interesting, Freya.

It reminds me of something.

I and my colleagues from other western countries, had to have work visas to work in a south Asian country back in the nineties. Since the government never got round to making our visas long term, we had to cross a border into another country every month to renew our short term visas.

I was only about an hour's drive from a border but for some people it meant a longish flight, somewhere to stay for a day or two and another flight back to where they worked.

So, when people say asylum-seekers in Britain "aren't allowed to work", I just remember the visa requirements even for invited people in the south Asian country I worked in.

And I shrug and don't find the no work until approved policy, or whatever it's called, at all strange.

Apologies, wrong thread.
No I do not believe in making a situation worse for these children. They had no choice in being put on a ricketty boat by their parents, or people smugglers paid by parents. Whatever the desperation in France, or any other EU country, surely children are better off with their parents.

Doesn’t what?

Luckygirl3

*I don’t lack compassion but it is just a mural on a wall that we are talking about*

No it isn't - it is about Jenrick wanting to make the centre unwelcoming.

Now he is either a mean heartless little s**t, or he seriously thinks that this will deter immigration. Either is unacceptable. The first is not the sort of person we want in government; the second is just stupidity.

I am certain that he doesn’t.

SueDoku

Whitewavemark2

So the situation is that asylum seekers choose totally legally to seek asylum in the U.K. They are innocent of any illegal act, and yet this government chooses to detain them in a detention centre with the intention of transportation to a country at war with its neighbour and who shoots and kills asylum seekers for protesting that they are hungry.

Whilst these innocents are waiting, they are held in the most unpleasant circumstances that this government thinks it can get away with. Presumably this includes painting out murals.

Pathetic, History will never forgive or forget.

I couldn't agree more. This report shows in a nutshell the mindset of the people running this country now..!
It's utterly abhorrent 😖

According to maritime law, anyone entering British waters, without leave to do so is breaking the law. Just saying.
Under existing British law, it's illegal to enter the country without a visa or special permission. That means someone who reaches the UK on a small boat could face up to four years in prison.27 Apr 2023

Luckygirl I agree with your sentiment, but I actually think what is happening here is performative cruelty.

Jenrick knows full well that it won’t deter asylum seekers; instead he thinks that it’s what many Tory voters want to hear.
(And depressingly, he’s correct, looking at some of the responses on here).

It’s deeply cynical.

The Tories will be fighting the GE on two things alone:

1. ‘Stopping the boats’ (the nation’s ‘number one priority’ according to Sunak 🙄)

2. Wokery and confected culture wars.

Primrose53 Many of these children are not in their 20s. Some are. The majority are children, some as young as 12 or 14. Are theye to be treated badly because others are over age?

Does Robert Jenrick really believe that these children, some as young as 12 or 14, who have often endured long traumatic journeys across half the world on their own, will risk this journey because when they reach this country, something as trivial as a Disney mural on a wall will make them feel welcome.

What kind of mind thinks like that?

He has 3 young daughters and his profile says they are the most important thing in his life and providing them with a loving family environment... hey ho

Presumably those who feel refugees should stay in the first safe country they reach think that those heading for Europe should all stay on a Greek or Italian island and go no further.

I don’t lack compassion but it is just a mural on a wall that we are talking about

No it isn't - it is about Jenrick wanting to make the centre unwelcoming.

Now he is either a mean heartless little s**t, or he seriously thinks that this will deter immigration. Either is unacceptable. The first is not the sort of person we want in government; the second is just stupidity.

Some years ago I did voluntary work with the probation service. We helped in the visitors centre where families went to meet their imprisoned relative. We were encouraged to make the place bright and cheerful with artwork , toys for the kids and games for the family, and refreshments for all ( including the prisoners). There was also artwork around in the prison to lighten up the surroundings. Part of the reasoning behind this is to enable the prisoners to maintain their family ties. Presumably those who feel a prison is a merely place of detention think it should just look as grim as possible.

Beyond his political pursuits, Jenrick has shown a deep appreciation for history and a commitment to social causes. He has been an active member of the Parliamentary Conservative Friends of Israel group and has spoken passionately about his visit to Auschwitz concentration camp, highlighting the personal connection as his wife’s parents are Holocaust survivors. Jenrick’s involvement with the Jewish community holds great importance in his life.
Robert Jenrick and his wife Michal Berkner are proud parents to three daughters. While their names and specific details about them have not been publicly disclosed, their family life revolves around the love and care they share for their children.

As a couple, Jenrick and Berkner are dedicated to providing a nurturing and supportive environment for their daughters to grow and thrive. They prioritize their daughters’ well-being, education, and upbringing, ensuring that they have the opportunities to explore their interests and reach their full potential.

Having a wife whose parents were Holocaust survivors and being a father himself, you'd think Jenrick would have more compassion and understanding of the plight of young refugees.

Painting over murals is just spiteful and serves no purpose whatsoever.

Primrose53

@LibbyFionn29.

So anybody who agrees with you is “kind” and those of us who don’t “lack compassion”?

I don’t lack compassion but it is just a mural on a wall that we are talking about in a centre which is supposed to be for “children” but it is very well known that many of these “children” are men in their 20s.

I was brought up to be kind and compassionate just like my parents were but I draw the line at men masquerading as kids and also firmly believe we need to have controlled immigration.

This week I have donated stuff to a Ukrainian family moving into their first house, I regularly donate to charities close to my heart, I invite a lonely neighbour for meals, I Crochet or knit things for new babies in the village and I help out at local charity events.

We all choose what we support and what we don’t and until we have ensured that our own people have housing, food, healthcare and dental care then I don’t support allowing more and more people into our country every day especially when they have not put a penny into this country to start with.

Do you really, genuinely think that volunteer would be spending their time painting cartoon murals on walls to welcome men masquerading as children? If you do, it’s time to give your head a wobble I’m afraid.

I think this action is contemptible beyond belief and that Robert Jenrick is a dispicable little t*rd.

Don't hold back, M0nica 😂😂😂

FannyCornforth

Callistemon thanks! It seems it didn’t go down too well with them either!
It’s seems that no one will defend the indefensible (apart from a few on here)

It wasn't easy to watch as it kept cutting out but I did exercise patience and heard what the two guests said.

@LibbyFionn29.

So anybody who agrees with you is “kind” and those of us who don’t “lack compassion”?

I don’t lack compassion but it is just a mural on a wall that we are talking about in a centre which is supposed to be for “children” but it is very well known that many of these “children” are men in their 20s.

I was brought up to be kind and compassionate just like my parents were but I draw the line at men masquerading as kids and also firmly believe we need to have controlled immigration.

This week I have donated stuff to a Ukrainian family moving into their first house, I regularly donate to charities close to my heart, I invite a lonely neighbour for meals, I Crochet or knit things for new babies in the village and I help out at local charity events.

We all choose what we support and what we don’t and until we have ensured that our own people have housing, food, healthcare and dental care then I don’t support allowing more and more people into our country every day especially when they have not put a penny into this country to start with.

The Refugee Council has run an Age Disputes Project since 2010. Last year, the it worked with 233 young people whom the Home Office determined to “certainly” be adults. But, after age assessments, 94% were found to be children.

Even though they will have made a decision as to who they worked with I think this figure is staggering.

The data the government does publish on age assessments can be open to misinterpretation. The organisation Full Fact found some media outlets had incorrectly stated that two-thirds of asylum seekers arriving in the UK between January 2018 and March 2022 who claimed to be children were actually adults. In fact, it showed roughly 20% were in fact adults.
fullfact.org/immigration/child-asylum-seekers-adults/

One in five (20%) is obviously a lot but nowhere near 66% claimed by some.

ixion you may be interested to know that the statistics gathered by the government are incomplete and need to apparently be cross-referenced with other data.
I do wish it was all in one place! I've now spent two hours trying to understand what info comes from where!

Good post Monica

Thinking about it, it rather smacks of someone out of their depth and quite impotent in their role, pointlessly throwing their weight about.

That and performative cruelty, of course.

There’s a lot of it about at the Home Office

Just got back to GN after a few days away.

I think this action is contemptible beyond belief and that Robert Jenrick is a dispicable little t*rd.

The only comparison I can think of takes me back to the 19th century and the Clergy School at Cowan Bridge in Lancashire, attended by Charlotte Bronte and used as the basis of Lowood School in Jane Eyre.

I assume Robert Jenrick will soon review the catering plan and insist that the children are fed only enough to keep them alive, we do not want the attraction of adequate food and drink making them make that channel crossing, plus, of course, no medical treatment, children making the journey for free treatment on the NHS.

I agree so much with Jane Judge and other kind gransnetters.
I am horrified and rather upset that some people are so lacking in compassion.

Callistemon thanks! It seems it didn’t go down too well with them either!
It’s seems that no one will defend the indefensible (apart from a few on here)

What’s wrong with this country?! I can tell you . Nasty little shits in charge!

And what does Farage think about this situation? Did he wait to hear the 'other side'? No. He has stated that it is 'a bit mean'. Yes, that Farage.