Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Migrant Workers

Coventry in particular has been receiving asylum seekers and refugees from many parts of the world.

Since 2000 Coventry has had its own Refugee Centre. Originally supported and hosted by St Peter’s Church, Hillfields, Coventry, the new office in Bishop St, Coventry now provides help and advice to people from 87 different countries and has 40 paid staff as well as many volunteers. The arrival of migrant workers has been significant in both the urban and rural areas of Coventry and as well as Warwickshire. Details on www.covrefugee.org.

The arrival of new people in the diocese bringing skills, productive energy and a rich variety of cultural backgrounds presents a major opportunity for Christians to welcome and be good hosts and neighbours to people who are often the most marginal, vulnerable and poor. Those arriving also present challenges to the host community who may find resources are stretched and opinions divided. Perhaps the worst of it is the destitution that structural economic, social and political pressures create.

From time to time the diocese has appealed for and on behalf of vulnerable people. We work closely with Coventry Peace House. See: http://covpeacehouse.org.uk and also Churches Together for Refugees in Coventry (CTRIC), contact Rev Tim Brooke on brooke@care4free.net.