Migrant Voice Paper 2012

Issue 1, 2012
www.migrantvoice.org
presenting alternative positions on migration
inside
4
Brits abroad The other side of the immigration debate
13
Overseas students crisis Jeopardising a British success story
14
Maybe its because Im (almost) a Londoner
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are among the international celebrities for whom London has been home. Their 10m house has also been home to Johnny Depp and to Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Story: page 3 photo: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
WAnted: funder 18 for UK ellis Island migration museum

Migrant Voice reporter
Brums Balti bonanza HP sauce, Typhoo, Cadburys now another landmark
Europes royal migrants Freshening up the bloodline
former immigration minister is leading a team that aims to create Britains first museum of migration. Britain has thousands of museums more than 100 in London alone but no major comprehensive museum devoted to all aspects of British migration, both incoming and outgoing. Former Labour minister Barbara Roche and her team believe it could
be as significant as the opening of the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool in 2007, which director David Fleming described as the most important new British museum for 100 years: the transatlantic slave trade was the greatest forced migration in history. The US has Ellis Island, once the gateway for millions of immigrants to the US, and Roche believes Britain needs something similar: an institution to celebrate the role of migration in the national story.
The great thing about Britain is that it has absorbed migrants for centuries, says Roche. I feel very proud to be British and this project is about realising that one of the best things about being British is that we are made up of difference. A migration museum would also cover British emigration: 5.5 million British nationals are estimated to be living abroad (roughly the same number as
continued on page 2
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Rugbys non-racist record Hitz kicks out the old rugby clichs
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Editor-in-chief Nazek Ramadan Editor Daniel Nelson Editorial manager Anne Stoltenberg Designer Ching-Li Chew Lead photographer Beth Crosland With thanks to all the volunteer journalists, photographers, contributors and Migrant Voice network members and trustees who took part in the production of the paper in particular thanks to: Nishit Morsawala Ruchita Daswani Lilian Posada Mariko Hayashi Amlie Belfort Pilar Balet Robinson Sara Davidson Karina Cabrera Thank you to the Barrow Cadbury Trust and the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust for supporting the work of Migrant Voice. Thank you to the Open Society Institute for supporting our work, and in particular for funding towards the production of the paper. MV is a migrant-led organisation with a vision of an equitable society where migrants are recognised for their contribution, embraced as valuable members of our community, and their voices equally heard.
Printed at the Guardian Print Centre, Rick Roberts Way, London E15 2GN and The Guardian Print Centre, Longbridge Road, Manchester M17 1SL Migrant Voice is the newspaper of the registered Charity No 1142963 and the not-for-profit company 7154151 Migrant Voice. Published by and Migrant Voice 2012. Please seek permission before reproducing any of our articles or photographs.
Welcome to Migrant Voice
elcome to the new issue of Migrant Voice newspaper which celebrates the success and contribution of migrants and their role in influencing life and culture in the UK, and shaping its future. It tells the stories of many migrants, including Brits living abroad and of their hopes and aspirations. Join us on a journey to the Balti Triangle in the heart of the nations curry capital, Birmingham; follow the dreams of our Olympic hopefuls such as Mo Farah and Tiffany Porter in our sports pages; and find out how the Olympic flame sparks romance between Europes royals and their future migrant partners; discover the new fashion
talents in London and a strange but inspirational kinetic theatre in Glasgow. Also in this issue we investigate policy areas that impact on both migrants and the country, such as the cap on students visas and the language tests for foreign spouses. We want to hear your thoughts. If you would like to make comments and suggestions, or if you would like to get involved in our work, please email info@migrantvoice.org
Editor-in-chief Nazek Ramadan
Concern as security companies take over asylum housing

PiNaR aksu
multinational company that has won a contract for housing asylum-seekers in Scotland has been challenged to maintain standards. Serco has been urged to adopt the Scottish Standards for Temporary Accommodation, which outline minimum housing and service standards for people in temporary homeless accommodation. The standards are promoted by the charity Shelter Scotland and the Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland. Michael Collins of the Glasgow City of Sanctuary group commented: Glasgow can be proud of our history as a city of welcome for people seeking sanctuary. Asylum housing provision, however, has been very hit-and-miss and some of it, particularly in the private sector, has been downright awful. We arent asking for special treatment for people seeking sanctuary, just a housing service of the same standard as that for other people who find themselves
homeless. Collins, a former housing manager at the Scottish Refugee Council, added, In Glasgow and across the UK there have been examples of shockingly sub-standard housing being used. Provision of housing for asylum-seekers in Scotland has often been controversial. For several years it was provided by Glasgow Council, and has since been managed by the private Angel Group and the charity Ypeople. But at the end of 2011 the UK Border Agency said Serco would take over the job. Two other multinational security companies, Reliance and G4S, have also won similar contracts elsewhere in UK. All are involved in the provision of immigration detention services in the UK. Serco runs the Yarls Wood detention centre in Bedfordshire. Concern about putting responsibility for housing into the hands of private corporations has been expressed across the UK, particularly over the danger that standards of support are being being lowered.
MusuEM BiD, from page 1
Frank Meislers Kindertransport memorial outside Liverpool Street station, London commemorates the rescue mission before the outbreak of the Second World War when Britain took in nearly 10,000 predominantly Jewish children from Nazi Germany and other European countries. Photo: StoneColdCrazy
foreign nationals living here) and some 60 million people around the world claim British ancestry. Roche emphasises the importance of making people realise such a museum is for all of us, not just for one particular group or community, because as the writer, Robert Winder says, weve all come from somewhere else. The only thing that distinguishes us is how far back we go. Suggestions for the location include East Londons Docklands area, Birmingham, Cardiff, Southampton and Liverpool. She says the main problem is finding a major donor maybe someone of migrant heritage who feels particularly patriotic because of all that he or she has managed to achieve in Britain. We know this project is ready to fly and were just waiting for the right person or people to have the courage and vision to fly with us, she says.
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Where the streets are paved with celebs

Joanna Cordero takes a tour of London, and finds shes among the stars
hen it comes to star-spotting, I would rate London in the top three with Los Angeles and New York, James Bonney from a company that operates bus tours of celebrity homes, has said. Most celebs who cross or consider crossing the pond from the US or elsewhere seem to be doing so for professional reasons or for love but inevitably they eventually fall for the city itself, for its culture and diversity, said Bonney. Madonna owns several properties across the UK and lived in London with thenhusband, Guy Ritchie, between 2000 and 2008. Although unsure at first, Madonna became enamoured with the city. She told the Daily Mail that: I just fell in love with it. I am delighted to be here. I am not delighted that people keep saying that I dont like being here. Why did I buy so many houses here if I didnt like it? Pint-sized singer and actress, Kylie Minogue, moved to London over 16 years ago from Australia where she became famous for her role in Neighbours and has since made a music career in which she has sold over 68 million records. She reaffirmed her love of Chelsea by buying a property just moments away from her old home. She is often seen out with her Spanish model boyfriend, Andres Velencoso Segura. Icelandic singer-songwriter Bjrk moved to the capital in 1992 to launch a solo career. In 1994 she won Best International Female and Best International Newcomer at the BRIT awards. For her, London was the best place to grow commercially. She once commented, When I was a teenager in Iceland people would throw rocks and shout abuse at me because they thought I was weird. I never got that in London no matter what I wore. Atlanta-born former Destinys Child, Kelly Rowland, told the Daily Mirror that she loved British culture singling out its humour, traditional Sunday brunches and sticky toffee pudding. Like Bjrk, American actress Gwyneth Paltrow is also a fan of the capitals fashion diversity. In Chelsea, its very designer, and within that, youll have the more horsey, traditional English girl - that posh kind of dressing, she said in an interview. In east London you have the funkiest styles, where theyll bring back the 80s and stuff like that. Youll
Kylie Minogue: House in Chelsea Photo: Paul Robinson
Madonna: Several properties Photo: Adam Sammler
London is my home. I will never renounce being American but there is a part of me that is British now
see a forward kind of fashion there. Then, in Notting Hill, youll see Sienna Miller -style, sort of Bohemian chic [and], in north London its a mix of all of the above. She moved to London to be with her rocker-husband, Chris Martin from Coldplay. The couple lives in a 33-room mansion in Belsize Park. The globetrotting Jolie-Pitt brood also called London home, setting up a base in Richmond-on-Thames, while Brad Pitt shot the film World War Z in Glasgow. The couple and their six children lived in a 10 million home just around the corner from Oscar winner and fellow American, Sandra Bullock. Their mansion has also been the residence of other Hollywood A-listers including Johnny Depp, Michael Douglas and wife Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Self-confessed Anglophile, Kevin Spacey, made the move from New York to a Kennington flat in south London to take over the artistic direction of the Old Vic. In an interview with the Mirror he said, London is my home. I will never renounce being American but there is a part of me that is British now. I may go for dual citizenship who knows, he added. Another Anglophile, US film director Tim Burton fell in love with Londons cityscape after moving to a house in Belsize Park close to his partner, British actress Helena Bonham Carter. Londons streets and gothic architecture that recalls vintage British horror films are among his inspirations. Im much happier in [London] - I like the weather, I like walking, I like being a foreigner. I felt like a foreigner growing up in LA so now I feel comfortable being a foreigner, he told Time Out magazine. And maybe its because I watched too many Hammer horror films, but I feel like Im living in one, which makes me very happy. I do like it when it rains. It depresses a lot of people but I get quite excited when it rains. Maybe its because Im from southern California, he added.
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Sara DaviDSoN, 50 itS a claSS iSSue.

Having lived in more than six countries and on three continents she currently lives in the uK. I spent six months in Iceland as a student, and another year in Norway, where I also worked. Students are seen as migrants, which is a shame as they are more expatriates. I worked 18 months in Australia, as an aid worker in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. I went to India, then to Australia, then to Burma and Nepal. I tried to integrate. In Australia I shared a house with Australians and other travellers. In Sydneys poorer areas I became friends with immigrants and locals. I was a migrant worker in Australia. Essentially, an expatriate is a positive term, it means you have more responsibilities and that somehow theres a chance youll willingly go home. Migrants have to take what they get, cant go back as easily. Migrant is now a criminalised term it could mean expatriate, refugee, asylum-seeker. In India, there is a great consciousness of its colonial past and certain prejudices from the middle-class. Its easy to forget quickly that we too used to go abroad and we still applaud people for going abroad ... migrants, however, are treated suspiciously. Its a class issue.
Brits abroad: the other of the immigration deb

Dr liNa lewiS, 48 i MiSS tHe greeNery
She and her husband and family have lived in Bahrain for almost a decade. We have been working abroad for more than 10 years. Unfortunately our holidays are spent at home in UK to make up for working abroad. We would love to travel with family but never had the opportunity. I miss the greenery, discipline, the variety of places to visit, museums, theatres and our homes. We are part of the local culture but we are always foreigners and never actually part of it. Sadly with more time spent abroad, you feel you dont belong here or there. Thats the price you have to pay for a better living and job satisfaction. You contribute to the local culture but once your job is done you fear you are not needed and thus you are not welcomed.You leave your home to provide your family with a better future, financial security and job satisfaction.You consider it home but deep inside home is where your family is and sometimes it gets lonely, although you are surrounded by friends and colleagues. Your friends become your family you can rely on when needed. However, as Bahrain is home to many expats, friends come and go. Its ok when you are young and busy building your future, but then you look for security, family and where you grew up to think of home.
Immigrant, migrant, traveller, expatriate: Nishit Morswala talks to people from UK who seek fun and fortune overseas
n Britain, controversy about immigration has raged for years. But emigration gets less attention. Australia is the most popular country for Brits looking to live overseas, with 21 per cent in a Post Office survey making it their No.1 choice, followed by the US, Canada and Spain. The survey found that a quarter of people and a third of students have considered a move overseas, and that a better quality of life was the main biggest incentive. The number of people who left the UK in 2010 was 124,000. About two million Britons have left the UK since 1998, and around a million have returned. Around 60% of those leaving are of working age, in the 25-to-44 age group who are going for a job or are looking for one. Jessica Crowe has been living in Mexico
City for more than six months: Leaving your country of birth gives you a better idea of what you consider home to be. I always wanted to see the world, says 31-year-old Martin Barnett. I was still young and single when I went to New Zealand for a snowboarding trip so I stayed Barnett spent seven years abroad three each in New Zealand and Australia and one more in Southeast Asia and he loved every bit of the migrant experience. Of course there are problems, like migrants have in every other country, he says. My girlfriend is Japanese and once a group of people passed racist remarks at her while we were walking down the street. Some Aussies would joke about how Brits were taking their jobs when I worked as a bartender: it was all very light-hearted but you never know what the underlying sentiment is.

Dr Seth Lazar, with his wife, Lu Barnham, and son Amos, at Rye Beach, Melbourne: Once a traveller, now an immigrant
EmmA SyLvEStEr, 28: I cAn onLy SEE thE movE AS A poSItIvE

An actress who at the time of the interview lived in London, she and her partner are moving to Australia in pursuit of a better, less stressful life. Ive travelled to China, Thailand, India, Zimbabwe, the US, Europe (France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Germany and Austria) but never lived abroad as such. My partner and I are moving to Melbourne. We are sick and tired of the expense of London living, cold winters, overcrowded cities, the London riots...My partner Joe is a chef and his working day can be up to 18 hours. In Australia he can work less hours with more leisure time. We both love the sea, swimming and surfing we can all do at the start or the end of a working day in Melbourne. We also both want an adventure together, having both lived in London for the last eight years. Although Ill miss my friends and family back home, its something I feel we both need to do. I feel claustrophobic in the city, hungry for a change. But I will miss British pubs and heritage, London on a crisp winter morning, the patchwork of British countryside. In Australia, I plan on taking part in fringe theatre in whatever capacity. I can only see the move as a positive. I think the more customs you can understand and by osmosis inform and better yourself as an individual the better. I would perceive myself to be a migrant, as I intend to work in Oz and integrate with society over there.
Finch: Increase in Britons going to China.
The British diaspora

bout 5.6 million Britons now live abroad permanently, with another 500,000 living abroad for part of the year, according to the Foreign Office. The vast majority, are young working people, in the 25-44 age group, says Tim Finch, co-author of a recent report, Global Brit: Making the most of the British diaspora. The next biggest group are in the 45-59 age bracket. Very few are going out to do nothing, points out Finch, communications director at the Institute for Public Policy Research, the think-tank which published the report. Do they integrate with the societies in which they find themselves? Pensioners are the least-integrated migrant community, he says. In Anglophone countries, integration is very good its hardly worth talking about. Were bad at speaking other languages, we only speak English ... it is easier to integrate in English speaking countries. The Global Brit study found that emigrants integrated better in Bulgaria and the US than in Spain and Dubai, while the result for India was mixed. Why? Bulgaria was a nascent community, cheap property, nice environment it was advertised as a nice home, Finch explains. If you cant afford France or Spain, then it made sense. In Bulgaria you have to integrate as they dont speak English and you need to learn a bit of Bulgarian. There is now a big increase in Britons going to China, where opportunities didnt exist 10 years ago, a shift that Finch says might increase to economically developing countries such as India or Brazil. A recent survey by currency dealer Moneycorp found that nine out of ten British expats said that they would continue to live abroad, with a quarter of respondents saying that they would rather move to another country than consider moving back to the UK.
side ate
He and his girlfriend now are planning to move to Japan. People migrate for quality of life reasons and thats fair, he says. Technically, the United Nations Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families defines a migrant worker as a person who is engaged or has been engaged in a remunerated activity in a State of which he or she is not a national. A particularly sore point in the UK immigration debate is language. A recent court ruling has upheld the UK immigration rule that spouses must pass a basic English language test if they are to indefinitely join their partners here. Supporters say the move will improve social integration: critics say it may obstruct a persons right to a family life. What about Britons living abroad? Susan Woods worked for three years in South Africa and seven in the US. Now she owns a property in the Spanish town of Alcossebre, where she spends a few months every year with her husband. One of the things I find most
Some Aussies would joke about how Brits were taking their jobs when I worked as a bartender
extraordinary about the English in Spain is how many of them havent made more than a rudimentary attempt to learn Spanish. Most seem to really just want to pretend theyre still in England - but with better weather, she says. And how easy is it to integrate in a culture and society far removed from your own? I dont have any particular plans regarding becoming part of the local culture, says Dr Seth Lazar, who lives with his family in Australia after living in Zimbabwe, Switzerland, the US and Israel. I intend to hold onto my accent at all costs, for example. Lazar says hes been a traveller but now I see myself as an immigrant. He doesnt think the idea of global citizenship makes much sense, except metaphorically: Citizenship denotes membership in a state, or at least a political community, and in the absence of a global state, nation-states are all we have. And theres no doubt when moving to work in another nation-state that you know youre an immigrant, and in that respect different from the locals.
How migrants can help strengthen Britains economic backbone

Freda OwOnsu
Brighter Futures member: promoting excellence. Photo: Trupti Patel
Nominate a social worker

alex suttOn
eres how Kofi and other migrants from all over the world can help strengthen Britains economic backbone one of the aims of Lord Green, the Trade and Investment Minister. Green wants 100,000 small enterprises to start exporting or spread sales to new markets. He admits that tackling the unknown in the overseas markets will often be daunting, and calls on business advisors, accountants, lawyers and other professionals to help. Thats where Kofi comes in. Kofi is a 29-year-old engineering graduate from the University of Science and Technology in Ghana. He works in Britain as a part-qualified accountant for a manufacturing firm that sees opportunities in the Ghanaian market. With his technical knowledge, Kofi can talk to potential clients and government officials in Ghana. Through his old school or alumni network, he will have contacts in Ghana, some of whom may even be quite strategic for the British company. Kofi is looking for chances to visit his country of origin, or the chance to return either semi-permanently or permanently. By drawing upon Kofis contacts, knowledge and aspirations, the British company could not only hit the ground running in Ghana, but could also make savings by hiring lawyers and other professionals only when absolutely necessary. Kofi could also gather information from his contacts in Ghana, and brief company executives before any visits
they make to Ghana, including cultural dos and donts. People like Kofi are a human resource in which Britain is rich, because of its colonial history and subsequent diversity but which competitor countries, such as China, generally lack. Why not use this resource to competitive advantage? Here are some suggestions: 1. Get to know your migrant workers (however humble their position in the company), by including them more in the social life of your business. Find out, in a non-threatening way, where they originate from, their qualifications, and what they know about local markets there - this could well give you some ideas about potential products in new locations you may not know about. 2. If you find that some of your migrant workers originate from the countries you wish to export to, tell them, seek their help, and if appropriate, work with them 3. Find out what they know about doing business in your sector, who they know, which language they speak youll almost certainly find they speak several - and how best they may be able to assist your export strategy. Their input may be as simple as interpreting or translating material for you, but it could also provide you with practical information, and more importantly, useful contacts that could enable you to leap-frog over the competition. If you dont employ migrant workers from countries in which you are aiming to do business, try migrant networks and associations, some of whom maintain ties with their home countries and can help you with essential practical information and useful contacts.
embers of the Brighter Futures youth group are looking for the social worker who best supports young refugees and asylum-seekers. And when they find him or her, that person will be given The Brighter Futures Award. Some young people we know have been saved by individuals good practise, while some have been victims of bad practice, says the group. A good social worker or key worker can make all the difference between a young person feeling safe, listened to and optimistic about the future or feeling isolated, threatened and stuck. Members of our group know that a good social worker or key worker that goes the extra mile can open the door to their future. They say they want to promote excellence as we only ever hear about negative practice: we want to inspire people to improve and learn from inspirational role models. You can nominate online or download the nomination pack from www. brighterfutureslondon.co.uk, Tell your local authority or anyone you think might be interested. Deadline for nominations is February 24.
Migration cap may be bad for business

JasOn Paul Grant
ondon is a global city, unique in its diversity, proud of its history and an economic driver for the whole country. People from around the globe flock to London to experience the sights, learn the language, work, study and play. In return, they bring skills, experience and diversity. All of these benefits could come to an end if the governments plans to cap migration are implemented. The cap will limit the number of people coming to work here, and is directed at people from outside the European Union. Recruitment of skilled workers from non- EU countries is central to many businesses in the UK, and evidence indicates they contribute to Britains wealth. Restricting skilled migrant workers brings significant risks for UK businesses. Many businesses consider such
migrants as critical to their future development and to wider economic growth in the UK. Thats why many have opposed the plans to curb immigration. A spokesman for the employers body stated that the cap places an immediate disadvantage on UK-based businesses as they seek to win international business, and in doing so need to deploy internationally sought-after talent. This is the worst of all times to constrain business in its ability to access the skilled global talent it needs to support this growth. Similarly, Matt Cavanagh, associate director of the IPPR think-tank, was looking ahead when he said, Ministers need to start thinking about how to harness immigration to promote growth. But if businesses think restrictions on immigration are harmful to themselves and the economy, they need to make that case clearly and with evidence - not just to government but to the public.
Secrets of success
Anne Mullee gets tips for the top from a trio of migrants who have become leaders in their field
hat is success? While money tops many peoples list, for others its just a part of the story, or doesnt feature at all. For these three migrants, the key to their achievements has been creativity, a love of food and the chance to help others. Camila Batmanghelidgjh Born in Teheran to an Iranian father and Belgian mother, British Business Woman of the Year Camila Batmanghelidjh was sent to boarding school in Britain at the age of 11. Her wealthy family were supporters of the Shah and suffered in the wake of the 1979 revolution, when her mother vanished, her father was imprisoned and her sister committed suicide. Though severely dyslexic, Batmanghelidjh gained an honours degree in drama from the University of Warwick, then trained as a psychotherapist, when she began to witness the damaging effects of child poverty and decided to do something to help. The result is her charity, Kids Company, founded in 1996, which offers a range of services including drop-in centres and therapy for children living in poverty in London. Though feted for her charity work, Batmanghelidjh is far from complacent, and is an avid lobbyist for increased funding for social services relating to children. Following last years riots she commented on the effects of poverty and how the authorities are failing such children: Underresourced social work departments are
Camila Batmanghelidjh: Avid lobbyist Photo: Garry Knight
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Being entrepreneurial is in my blood, I approach life with strong ambition and the drive to be successful
making unethical choices all the time, leaving children hungry, neglected or sleeping on the floor. A house littered with dog and human faeces is now not classified as child abuse, nor do social services take responsibility for a 13-year-old boy being run by drug dealers and witnessing the torture of other young people: thats classed as a police matter. On her own success, she believes that part of it is down to creating a peaceful, and attractive, environment, an approach evident from her colourful personal style. Find a place, then make it beautiful, and you colour a childs life, she suggests. Anjali Pathak and the Pathak family Regularly touted as Britains new favourite dish, curry today is as ubiquitous as fish and chips. But that wasnt the case when Laxmishanker and Shanta Pathak migrated to the UK from Kenya in 1956. Originally from the Gujarat region of India, the couple found themselves in the north London area of Kentish Town with just 5 to get them started, and no familiar Indian food to be found. With entrepreneurial zeal, they began to track down spice suppliers and to make and sell their own recipes through their shop, with Shanta devising pickles and relishes in her own kitchen. The business grew, dropped the h to become Pataks, and its products can now be found in every supermarket in the land. Laxmishanker and Shantas son Kirit (currently appearing in Pataks TV adverts)
Anjali Pathak: On the brink of a food revolution
and granddaughter Anjali are now the companys brand ambassadors, with Anjali spreading curry lore through cookery demonstrations on You Tube. She is proud of her familys success and passionate about Indian food. Being entrepreneurial is in my blood, I approach life with strong ambition and the drive to be successful, she told Indiatimes. As a second-generation migrant she is positive about the opportunities her country can offer, but also believes that heritage can play an important part in finding success. The UK recognises talent and does not discriminate: this has given young Indian entrepreneurs a platform to show innovation and skills. But my Gujarati heritage is also very important to me. It is where a lot of my family traditions derive from. When I joined the business I wanted to show the trendier, healthier side of Indian cuisine. There are so many aspects to share and I believe the world is on the brink of the Indian food revolution. Hussein Chalayan British Designer of the Year for two consecutive years, Chalayan moved to the UK from Nicosia in Turkish Cyprus in 1978, when he was eight. Renowned for his avant garde approach to fashion, his debut collection featured silk dresses that had been buried to allow them to decompose. He went on to make clothes from paper and wood and other unexpected materials. Today, however, he is better known for dressing Lady Gaga and as creative director for sportswear label Puma. A champion of collaboration and trying everything and anything, Chalayan believes that you dont have to have your own label to succeed, you could have a part in an interesting group. With a keen interest in all forms of art and design, he has represented Turkey at the Venice Biennale and worked with crystal specialists Swarovski to make glow-in-thedark LED dresses. His advice for success? You have to expose yourself to other worlds to keep your mind more active.
Hussein Chalayan dresses, Design Museum, London Photo: Kaupelei
Integration under threat

Don Flynn Director of the Migrants Rights Network
oliticians like to emphasise the importance of family life, but their actions dont always live up to their words. Measures under consideration by the government, for example, threaten the family lives of many immigrant communities. One area of concern is the new requirement that people abroad wishing to join their families here must speak at least basic conversational English. The Border Agency admits that testing produces discrimination on grounds of race or nationality but says this is justified by the benefits of better integration and economic well-being. But the evidence is that such testing is unnecessary. In the days when language testing was given not before entry to UK but after two years residence, it was found that less than 1% of applicants failed. That is a good indication that the opportunity to live here is the best guarantee that migrants will learn to speak English. Now the government intends to insist that those seeking to bring in a family member have a higher level of earnings perhaps 20,000 for a couple with no children. If that figure is agreed, the governments main migration policy advisors estimate that around half of all family reunification applications will fail on grounds of low earnings. This high refusal rate will impact most on migrants from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. Sponsors living and working outside London and the south-east will also be hit hard, as well as those in low-paid jobs such as nursing, teaching and residential care. The governments reasoning for making it harder for dependents to join families in Britain is that only relatively well-off people can take on the task of integration into mainstream society. Yet compared to other European countries, the absence of such obstacles to a secure status based on positive rights to family life has produced more integration. The imposition of the barriers being considered by the government will increase the chances that relatively poor immigrant communities will be permanently locked out of the advantages of a family life. The result could be a rise in the poverty of some groups because immigration rules force them to take on the extra expense of maintaining two households, one in the UK and another for dependents in the place of origin. Migrant parents work hard to ensure that their children have a better life than they do. If family life is denied, the rise of communities from poverty to relative prosperity will also cease. Such progress has been the real drive towards integration. If the governments plans are carried out, we might have to wave goodbye to all hopes for integration based on progress towards equality and social justice.
Exile: Hands on or hand out? Photo: Natalie Bennett
The homelandless: limbo between two

Victor Fraga, who has made a home in Britain but fondly remembers his original homeland, talks to two exiles who are not so fortunate
hen I think of my homeland, Brazil - an ocean and a hemisphere away from my chosen home in London I experience a gentle sense of longing. I remember my family, my schoolfriends, my childhood places, my favourite TV shows, the vibrant colours, tastes and smells. I can almost sense the beach and the joys of carnival right in front of me. Brazil is now the country of the future. The unrelenting prophecy that the sleeping giant is going to wake up is now becoming reality. The economy is booming, poverty and social inequalities are diminishing. Virtually all indicators are positive. Unfortunately, not all immigrants have the same privilege. Most did not opt to leave their homeland like me and instead were brutally forced out by a series of unfortunate, often catastrophic, circumstances. Their feelings towards their homeland are in violent conflict with mine. Jean Baptiste and Fred (not their real names) are both from the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country devastated by decades of civil war, with little prospect for improvement. A bloody past and gloomy future.
His wife and kids are dead, murdered by progovernment forces, like most of his friends and relatives
Jean Baptiste is 40, from the eastern town of Bukavo, near the Rwanda border. His voice is placid, his manners kind and agreeable. He was a headmaster and a preacher before fleeing to Britain because of his vocal opposition to the President, Joseph Kabila. He had been arrested five times without a charge and feared for his life. His memories are ridden with blood and fear. He has no-one left at home to visit; he has no desire to return to his childhood place and does not see even a faint hope of improvement. Jean Baptiste has been fighting for years for the right to bring in his wife and three children, but the Home Office has told him that to do so he needs to earn a minimum of 2,300 a month. This is so absurd that it would have been more honest for the Home Office to have simply said no. As we went to press, however, we learned that he has finally been allowed to be reunited with his family. Freds story is similar, involving political opposition in Congo, arrest, and escape with the help of a black market agency, leaving wife and kids behind. Fred, however, is not concerned about family rights. Instead, he wants to start a new family in the UK. This is not because
Family of nations
Rules and regulations make it increasingly hard for migrant workers and refugees and sometimes British citizens to bring in spouses and other family members. Could you live without your family? Should family life be a basic human right? If you had to move abroad for a long time would you expect the right to bring your family with you? We asked a random group of passers-by.
Victor Fraga: A sense of longing
KatJa, 30, office worKer
in worlds
Fred is heartless. His wife and kids are dead, murdered by pro-government forces, like most of his friends and relatives. Talking to Jean Baptiste and Fred makes me feel like a champagne immigrant who decided to move to a richer and more promising nation on a caprice. My life in here has enabled me to learn a lot and appreciate my Brazilian and Spanish heritage. I have helped publicise Brazilian culture in the UK and I like to think that I make a contribution to Londons diverse cultural landscape. But whats the point in discussing your favourite British dish or artist when your priority is simply staying alive? Unlike me, Jean Baptiste and Fred did not choose to live in the UK out of admiration for the vibrant cultural scene. They came here because it offered a chance for survival. I have three passports: Brazilian, Spanish and British. Jean Baptiste and Fred possess no passport. They have a Home Office travel document, which grants extremely limited mobility. My parents and sisters dont need a visa to visit me. I speak to my cousins on Facebook. When I have kids, I have no doubt that they will be able to travel the world.
Read more of Victor Fragas writing on his blog: vicfraga.blogspot.com
The most important family to me is my partner and I couldnt live without him. But if I think about my mom, Im actually living in another country already, so yes, I can live without her. I guess because that has been my own choice, to leave. Youre very alone without your closest ones, although I think they can be both your family by blood and dear friends.
MohaMed, 72, retired council eMployee
liz, 72, retired nurse, seven children
Justine, 22, student
I have been living on my own for over 40 years, but my sister and her daughter live nearby. But I think of course it should be the right for people to live with their families. If I had my own family and had to go abroad, I couldnt leave them behind. I would want to take them with me.
I cant imagine myself living without my family. Especially when you are older, you want to be around your family. Thats why I moved to London from Wales, just be to close to my children and grandchildren. I do believe the right to family life is a basic human right. If I had to go abroad for a long time, I would like to be able to take my family with me, although its up to them.
As I am studying abroad, I dont see my family very often but I am always happy to see them and as I know I will go back home someday, I dont really mind. But it would have been very different if I had a husband and kids since I cant imagine myself living without a family later. Living with ones family should obviously be a right, especially when one needs to move to another country.
carMen, 42, uneMployed, two children
ali, 27, shopKeeper
I cant imagine living without my family. I am Spanish, and in Spain family is very important. Of course it should be a human right to be with your family. I came from Spain and I could never leave my children, so I took them with me. It might be possible to live away from family, but it would be really hard.
I never lived without my family and I cant imagine what life without family is like. I see some people who have no family and its like being in prison for them. Especially for old people, its really sad when they have no one to look after them and they die alone. I have looked after my family all my life and I expect my family to do the same when Im old, so it is a human right to be with family. If I had to go abroad I would like to take my family with me, although its up to them.
Mary, 25, MuseuM intern
I couldnt live without a family anywhere in the world because its very important for me to be with the people I love. I think everyone should have the right to live with the one he or she loves.
alMa, 25, custoMer service representative
I have lived far away from my immediate family for a long time but that is just a matter of choice in my case and, I suppose, part of the process of growing up. However, I am happily married and could not imagine living far away from my partner ever. We had to spend time apart because of visa regulations and I do not wish that situation upon anyone.
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Sheida FiRoozi When I was a child, war started between Iran and Iraq. My home city was bombarded by the enemy. My family had to leave and go to another city. So I emigrated twice: once when I was a child, then, when I was older, I came to London. My life changed when I came to London. I experienced different cultures, arts, people, nature. Here there are green roads, blue skies. It is full of colour.
N. R. | Obscure new world: When you leave, you leave a city and a place with its troubles. You are well aware of what you are leaving behind, but you know very little of where you are leaving for. You have a blurry picture of a distant, mysterious place; images of tall, grey, empty buildings, with life, colour and people to be discovered once you are there. Migration opened my horizon to the world and made me a more tolerant, open-minded person. Although it took away my sense of belonging to a place, it turned me into a citizen of the world; a migrant.
Every picture
The Talking Pictures Project, run by Migrant Voice, was an opportunity for migrants to share their experiences through images and words. Participants came from Canada, Chile, Colombia, Eritrea, Georgia, Iran, Italy, Honduras, Lebanon, Palestine, Spain, Sudan and the UK, and have long and varied histories of migration to the UK and abroad. Their photos tell stories of decisions made before departure, during the journey and after arrival, of expectations and of the unexpected, and how people whatever their pasts focus on the future and build homes in a new country. DVDs from the project can be seen at www.migrantvoice.org. The project was funded by The Big Lottery Fund.
MohaMed | It reminds me of working on buildings and enjoying the sunshine in my home town.
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david lortkiPanidze | The situation then in my home country was very difficult: civil war and political changes. It was a period where we had to think about whether we would have to leave our countries and stay somewhere temporarily. But I never imagined that it would be for such a long time.
marwa baSha | I am from the biggest African country. But over the years because of too much conflict it became too small for me to live there. Thats why I had to leave. Wish we all could live in peace and make the country a better place for all. But after I left the peace became impossible and resulted in dividing the country.
marjorie baCa oliva | We have many dreams ... One of them was the chance to succeed, to progress and find new doors open for our future.
tells a story
eliSa iob | Once you have migrated, everything looks different! Claudia PonCe GimPel | There are places in the new country that for some reason make you feel comfortable. These places in time become your own places and make you feel you are not a foreigner in your new home.
Claudia Santoro | A rich society like a diamond has different sides; different tastes, and different colours. The differences that compose that society are its own strengths, to generate new ideas, new relations, and new solutions.
louiSe Sweet | Arrival confusion
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Britains ghost people

Six Oranges is a film-making unit which has made a film about British Overseas Citizens or BOCs, who have become ensnared in the immigration system. The unit explains the plight of BOCs from Malaysia ahead of the release of the film, The Queens Chinese.
oet Rupert Brooke wrote that theres some corner of a foreign field hat is forever England. But not if you are a British Overseas citizen a category which does not have an automatic right to live in the UK. BOC passports look like a British passport. You have to look carefully at the small print to see that it is an invitation to limbo. In withdrawing from its imperial possessions, Britain was confronted with a problem. Many of the new countries did not want to grant citizenship to other races who had settled there under British control. To avoid statelessness, Britain let many keep their Empire or Citizen of the UK and Colonies (CUKC) passports for one generation. In the cases of Malaysia, Britain allowed colonial residents to keep CUKC passports as insurance against the new state failing. But having made this gesture, Britain gutted it of meaning. Its hard to believe now, but before 1962, residents of Malacca in Malaysia could, if they wanted, get up one morning and relocate to Mayfair. In that year, immigration control was introduced. Britain subsequently enacted a succession of laws making it progressively harder for CUKCs to come here. By 1968 anyone who could not demonstrate a close connection to Britain that is, a white skin was stopped. A voucher scheme was established for CUKCs with nowhere to go. Malaysian BOCs started arriving here in numbers after the 1997 Asian financial crisis. A series of discriminatory laws in Malaysia after 1971 made it tougher for non-Malays to attend university and get jobs. Chinese and Indians whose families had lived there more than 200 years were told they were guests and must accept second class status. Many Malaysian BOCs who arrived in the UK applied for BOC passports, thinking they were the same as British passports. The Home Office decided they had automatically lost Malaysian nationality by getting a BOC passport - as Malaysia does not accept dual nationals - and made many BOCs British citizens. But they could not deport those they rejected. A migration route opened up. Britain then changed the law so BOCs could not become British, but the BOCs kept coming. Having closed the citizenship route, the Home Office just gave most of them discretionary leave instead. (Discretionary leave is granted by the government outside the immigration rules in exceptional circumstances). After a Malaysian court case in which a BOC regained his Malaysian passport, the UK authorities were unsure whether a BOC passport holder automatically lost Malaysian nationality. As BOCs piled up, the Home Office drafted a limbo policy that consigned the BOCs to oblivion, but hiding it so they would not know their fate. In a test-case in 2009 the Immigration Tribunal said that BOCs, who had by now lost Malaysian passports, were still Malaysian and should return there. A political campaign started; many deportations were stopped. Before the 2010 election, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg told the London Assembly that the BOC situation was simply unfair, and the immigration system inconsistent, bureaucratically incompetent and
Nick Clegg told the London Assembly that the BOC situation was simply unfair, and the immigration system inconsistent, bureaucratically incompetent and administratively chaotic
administratively chaotic. He has avoided meeting any BOC ever since, lest he be asked to make good on his word. Conservative Party Immigration Minister Damian Green told a BOC that if he could prove he was not Malaysian and had tried to return, his case would be reconsidered. The BOC did so, going to the Malaysia High Commission to try to retrieve his passport and presenting proof of his inability to do so to the Home Office, which simply rejected him for unrelated reasons. As 2011 drew to a close, a comical farce ensued. The Home Office tried, for the second time, to deport a BOC to Malaysia, accompanied by escorts, at a cost of tens of thousands of pounds. All were promptly returned to Heathrow on the next flight. Malaysia had always been clear that someone who handed back their passport could not live there. Unlucky BOCs bullied by the UK authorities into so-called voluntary return became Flying Dutchmen, going in and out of Malaysia continually to renew visit visas.
More information on The Queens Chineseat sixoranges.net
Hendy is originally from Malaysia. After arriving in Britain he applied for a British Overseas Passport. He was told that this would permit him to live in the UK. But the passport, which looks almost identical to a normal British
passport, gives Hendy no rights at all to live or work in the UK. He is an accountant but has to work illegally in a restaurant to make ends meet. He lives in a small flat with eight other workers. He has never seen his baby girl. He
communicates with his family in Malaysia via Facebook. As he had to renounce Malaysian citizenship, he is unable to go back. His life is suspended.
Photo: Shafiur Rahman, director of The Queens Chinese
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Be a STAR, help a refugee

About 5,000 students are working to improve the lives of refugees in the UK through the national charity, Student R Photo: STA Action for Refugees (STAR) One of them is Steph Hollands
Tell us about yourself. Im Steph, and I come from south-east Wales. I love photography, cycling, chocolate spread sandwiches and Bob Marley. Im studying physical geography at Kings [Kings College London KCL] and its the best subject ever! Ive just come back from a fieldtrip to Morocco where my fellow geographers and I surveyed dry rivers, measured the regeneration of the highly valued argan tree and saw many goats in trees. After I graduate, I hope to specialise in meteorology and become a weather woman (or a monster truck driver). When I am not studying I volunteer for STAR and the Royal Geographical Society, and work at a pub. Why did you get involved with STAR? I really wanted to put some of my spare time to good use and meet cool, new people. KCL STAR offered the chance to mentor kids and have a bit of fun. A year-and-a-half down the line Im still really enjoying it. Tell us about your volunteering project. KCL STAR supports Refugee Home School Support Project in Wandsworth, who run an after-school homework session for kids from refugee backgrounds. The Club started around five years ago with help from KCL STAR. Our volunteers help children aged between 5 and 15 with their school homework and run other activities. After 45 minutes of work, we move on to fun stuff like cooking, arts and crafts and games. The Katherine Low Settlement, where the Club is held, has a snooker and table tennis room that the children really look forward to using after their work. In November we had a fireworks display and sparklers in a nearby field. Many of the kids had not used sparklers before, so it was special. What are the children like? The kids are very, very, very energetic, hard-working and a pleasure to be around. Last 1 March one year-3 girl remembered I was from Wales and said, Youre from Wales arent you? We did that St Davids Day thing today. Yknow, the thing with the cauliflower?. Our national vegetable is a leek, but I was very impressed with her for remembering! What have you learnt from being a STAR? Ive become more confident, selfassured and tolerant. STAR has opened new pathways for me, including becoming a geography ambassador for Royal Geographical Society where I give presentations to groups of school kids about geography. Ive been able to attend extra training and courses like the Kings Leadership Award offered by our students union to active student society members. Volunteering for STAR has also made me more aware of other cultures and made me a more responsible person. The friends Ive made are brilliant and I definitely feel volunteering with STAR has added to my student experience. Visit www.star-network.org.uk.
Success story at risk

s part of the governments efforts to curb migration to Britain, about 230,000 fewer overseas student visas will be issued over the next five years. The rules have been changed to cut out bogus students, to make English-language requirements tougher, and to make it harder for students to bring in dependants, work part-time or stay on to work after completing their studies. Any restriction on student visas is a bad thing as we support an open exchange of students across the world, says Christopher Nicholas of the University and College Union, an organisation for students and staff in higher education. Effectively, the UKs universities will be closed for business. Students from outside the European Union already face stringent regulations to get a visa, including a 255 fee and showing that they have over 7,000 in their bank accounts. Tightening the rules will inevitably deter some from applying at all. Theres a lot at stake. One estimate is that the overseas students economy contributes 12.5bn a year to Britain. Thats not just fees, but off-campus expenditure - money that sustains tens of thousands of jobs. Students are not migrants, says Labour MP Keith Vaz. They come from all over the world to study here, contributing to the economy both through payment of fees and wider spending. Whilst we are right to seek to eliminate bogus colleges and bogus students, we need
Nishit Morsawala examines concern over a tightening up of student visas
University: Ease restrictions government urged.
to ensure that we continue to attract the brightest and the best. Reducing numbers has drawn criticism from many quarters, including Oxford University vice-chancellor Andrew Hamilton, who has called on the government to ease restrictions. Difficulties over visa applications as a result of current regulations and restrictions threaten to affect adversely the academic health of the university, he said. Limiting foreign academics was also problematic, he said, because they were key to maintaining the UKs reputation as a leading education provider. New lower limits on the numbers of international academics we can recruit or retain poses serious risks both scholarly and economic, he warned. He likened the governments move to the
Students already here are also being hit by the changes in rules
US governments post-9/11 crackdown on student visas, which had led to a long-term slump in its education market. Restricting the free flow of the brightest and best academics and students is an area where heeding the experience of the US may serve us well, he commented. During a debate on student visas, Liberal Democrat MP Stephen Williams said that foreign students are of fundamental importance for universities in Bristol and we should be careful of curbing the numbers at a time when the governments fiscal policy of rebalancing the economy would mean higher dependence on foreign student income. Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, has pointed out that the vast majority of international students return home once their studies are completed. This is a success story for the UK, but there is no shortage of global competition. Students already here are also being hit by the changes in rules. While I understand the basic idea behind bringing about a change in the new student visa rules, it is disappointing. I was told about the new rules mid-way through my masters, says 26-year-old Anna Isaac from Chennai, India, who says she now has to re-think her educational and career plans. Given that international students spend sometimes four times the amount on tuition fees alone compared to EU and British students, the reduction in student visas is bound to hit universities and the British government eventually, she adds.
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Balti
Ruchita Daswani samples Birminghams latest food revolution - the birth of the Balti
irmingham has long had a reputation for culinary innovation. Apart from being home to famous English food brands such as HP sauce, Typhoo Tea, Bourneville cocoa, Birds custard and Cadbury chocolate, it is now known as the nations curry capital. Authentic curries in Britains second most populous city go back to the 1940s when Abdul Aziz opened The Darjeeling in Steelhouse Lane, selling curry and rice. Another landmark came in 1977: Mohammed Ajaib produced a dish that he hoped would give him an edge over his rivals in Birminghams highly competitive Indian restaurant market. The balti was born. It was cooked and served in a steel wok or
Balti: Adapted to Western tastes
A matter of taste
Few things have changed as much in Britain in the last 40 years as food. Then, our food was famously stodgy and dull; now, its one of the most diverse cuisines in the world. Thats what we at Migrant Voice think and we decided to put it to the test of public opinion.
Joe, 16, STUDeNT
KUiDo ANgeleS, 31, cooK
I like Chinese food, and especially sweet and sour chicken because it is different in terms of taste. I like cooking with spices. If I am going abroad, Im not sure I will miss anything because you can find everything everywhere.
I prefer Chinese food like the type I can get in Spicy Noodle its really practical, fast and the portions are big. For me there is much more than just fish and chips here now. A lot of people from all over the world are living here so we have a bunch of options to choose from.
PARiD, 78, ex-meRchANT NAvy
I never buy food in take-aways because it is not healthy.British food has changed a lot, it has become more continental. Before, there was only sausages and mash, fish and chips Now there are more vegetables, more spices. But it is true, if I had to leave Britain, I would miss haddock and chips.
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Brum born and bred

balti, Hindi for a bucket or pail. It caught on rapidly. Balti houses mushroomed and today the south-eastern area of Birmingham that houses over 50 balti houses is known as the Balti Triangle. The balti has since been adapted to Western tastes and needs. The meat is cooked off the bone; use is made of vegetable oil, herbs and a selection of spices that includes fenugreek, turmeric and cumin along with a garam masala mix and fresh coriander as garnish. For quick service, the maximum preparation time is 10-15 minutes. The balti was born in Bham [Birmingham, or Brum], says Mo Ahmed, manager of the award-winning Al Frash Balti restaurant in Ladypoole Road. It is the only place where baltis are served authentically. Food is prepared, cooked and served in the balti dish which retains the goodness and makes the dish a light, healthy alternative to the heavier curry, he adds. Trying an authentic balti in an authentic
Shops in the Triangle: It caters for everyone. Photos: Ruchita Daswani
Trying an authentic balti in an authentic restaurant is a must on every visitors list
restaurant is a must on every visitors list. Recognised by the council as a unique area and promoted as a tourist destination, the Triangle draws over 20,000 visitors a week. People come to eat here from London, from Scotland, from all over - Iranians, Saudis, Japanese, Chinese, everyone comes to visit, says Hassan, co-owner of the Lahore Restaurant, Kebab & Sweet House. The Prime Minister of Pakistan had a meal of balti here recently. We also cater to all communities. We create special dishes for the festivals, not just for Eid, but also for Diwali and for Christmas, he says. In the wake of balti restaurants came groceries and supermarkets selling balti ingredients. Raja Brothers, a family-led business that started 30 years ago, is one of the biggest and best-known. Three years ago David Cameron worked at the store to spend some proper time out of Westminster though it was only a three-hour stint. The store specialises in Asian and Middle
Eastern food, says Kamran Ishtiaq, the third generation to handle the business. Its mostly the ethnic community, but also the English, who came to eat in the Balti Triangle and now want to get the ingredients to make the same food, he explains. The triangle now also boasts boutiques and jewellery stores with vividly colourful displays. It caters for everyone, says Rifath Hussain of Generations, one of the jewellery stores on Ladypool Road. Birmingham is a multicultural city, so many people, English people as well, come to buy things for weddings. There is something for everyone. The one thing you must do here is come to eat. Not just your main meal, but also desserts: there are restaurants that just specialise in desserts. People may have their dinner in one place, then go to another place for dessert and a third for shisha [hookah], she explains. This is a one-stop shopping area.
Causher, 57, playboy
My favourite food is chicken breasts and I like it spicy. I prefer to cook because in restaurants you dont have enough to eat and it is not good quality. For instance, the meat is raised with too many hormones.
Diana, retireD
into my food. If I had to leave my country I would miss the Sunday roast or my Christmas dinner.
KhaDra
I often buy sandwiches with chicken, ham, cheese, bacon and vegetables because fast food is really rubbish, and so is British food with its McDonalds and Subway. I particularly enjoy Chinese food.
James, 28, hospitality business
I like noodles and sushi because it is fast but healthy and tasty. I definitely think British food has changed from 40 years ago. Nowadays we have this influence with all these cultures like Indian, Polish, Spanish. Ive been influenced in my cooking by adding some new spices
I love grilled chicken, not the oily one you can find in fast foods but proper grilled chicken. However, I prefer healthy food such as salads, soups and vegetables. I appreciate that now British food is inspired by many influences and is not only fish and chips any more. But if I had to go abroad I would not miss anything.
over the years with different cultures from around the world living here. You can actually enjoy food from all over the world being here, especially in London. If I was to leave the UK, I would miss fish & chips from seaside towns.
moe, 24, stuDent peter, 21, it Developer
Its typical but I like hamburgers because no matter where you are in the world its something you find familiar. When I cook, I often use soy sauce to give my cooking a Japanese flavour. Its something that I always have to have in my kitchen cupboard. I think food in Britain has changed a lot
My favourite take-away is Indian because you can rarely be disappointed with Indian food: it is always good and tasty. As my mum is Indian, I enjoy tasty and spicy food and I love to use spices when I am cooking. But if I had to leave England, I would definitely miss English breakfast.
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Photo: Migrant Voice
Homes and migrants: the facts

What are the factors behind the shortage of social housing in the UK? The reasons are simple: far less social housing is being created, while demand continues to grow. The number of homes being built has declined overall from about 350,000 a year in the 1960s to less than half that number now. Most of the decline is the result of failure to build new social housing. In addition, government policies have decreased the amount of social housing available for example, by selling off social housing to the occupants from 1980 onwards. There is less rented housing available as well, because for decades government policies have favoured home ownership. People who cannot afford to buy may also find it difficult to rent privately, especially if they have large families, as there is now a limit on the housing benefits paid that particularly affects families who need four bedrooms and more. That will be even tougher when the benefit cap is introduced in 2013. (Legislation is going through Parliament that would see a limit of about 500 a week on the combined amount of benefits a single family can receive, excluding disability benefit and war widow pensions.) So the options available to people with low wages, no savings, or an immediate need for accommodation are decreasing. Is there a link between the shortage and immigration? Obviously, immigration contributes to population growth in a country with a successful economy, and population growth contributes to the need for housing. However, immigration, through more tax income, more builders and so on, also contributes to the ability to provide housing. It has also been said that population growth contributes to the rise in housing costs. In the case of free markets, prices are bound to rise as more people try to buy or rent houses. But Britain is not a free market: there are policies to promote the buying of houses and massive subsidies to private sector rents principally through housing benefits, but also in the past through UK Border Agency procurement of housing for asylum-seekers, which seemed to raise rents for the worst properties in some areas as landlords realised they could charge more. If social housing was a real choice for people, that would act as a brake on both rents and prices because landlords and sellers would realise they had competition. However, that is not the case as it has become very difficult to obtain social housing. Further, until recently social housing was always seen as a poor-quality worst option. So the issue is about the amount of housing we need and its price. Most researchers agree with Stephen Nickell, the respected economist, who reckons there would be a need for 270,000 new homes a year even if the number of people leaving the country and the number entering the country was in balance. So the housing shortage will continue even if no new migrants arrive. And if no new migrants arrive, we may not be able to pay for the new homes we need or to build them.
Housing and immigrants are both controversial but are the two connected? Sue Lukes, a member of the Mayor of Londons Housing Equality Standing Group, explains the issues to Migrant Voice
What are the main housing issues for migrants in the UK? Its a mistake to talk about housing issues for migrants as a single group. Some migrants really have no housing problems at all. At the top end of the property market, some migrant buyers are forcing up prices of homes in the 2 million plus bracket. Which housing issues affect different migrants is determined by a variety of factors, such as immigration status. Refugees are inevitably homeless when they arrive and so are more likely to end up in social housing. Migrants from European Union countries are more likely to be in private rented housing. Some work migrants from outside the EU may be more likely to buy, because they are highly qualified and richer. Work migrants often are able to make preparations before arriving. A factor often not mentioned is discrimination. Even if factors such as class, education and jobs are taken into account, there is still a mismatch between what we might expect and what actually happens to migrants, and discrimination may account for a lot of this. Migrants often do not know their rights, may have difficulty exercising them, may struggle to find advice or advocacy if they face discrimination, and so end up in poor conditions or homeless.
Who gets priority?

The Housing Act says that in the allocation of social housing, precedence should be given to: the homeless priority needs groups - families with children and the elderly people living in improper substandard accommodation people with medical and welfare needs those who need to move in order to avoid hardships those at risk of violence or threats in their current homes
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Taking jobs or helping build the economy?

Migrant workers are taking British jobs is an often-heard complaint. Migrant Voice hears another side of the story
hen Gails Bakery in Londons Portobello Road advertises for staff, we hardly get any British applicants, says manager Martin Barnett. Almost everybody who applies is a migrant, he says and he wonders how the city would function without them. Where I work, he comments in answer to his own question, it would be extremely difficult for me to fill vacant positions without them. Statistics back him up: migrants make up 69 per cent of all London workers in catering and cleaning. Half the care assistants in the capital, half of all nurses, one in four doctors were born abroad. And they didnt get their jobs because they accept low pay. Its because they work harder than their British counterparts, according to David Frost, the previous director general of the British Chambers of Commerce. Overwhelmingly, business has adopted migrant workers for the simple reason that they are often better educated and have a stronger work ethic than local people, he said on his last day in the job. The Greater London Authority has described international migrants as the engine of Londons economic growth, with firms emphasising the ability to attract international talent as essential to maintaining the citys reputation as a trade and investment hub. And as part of an on-going evaluation of the national minimum wage, the Low Pay Commission found that immigration to the UK made a positive contribution to the average wage increase experienced by nonimmigrant workers. Of course, economic arguments about the pros and cons of migration are complex, and represent only one set of approaches to the issue. The government and large sections of the public, for example, cite a number of reasons for wanting to regulate the number of migrants entering the country to work. Nevertheless, it is important that all the facts and views are on the table in any such discussion including the case for immigration, which is that by increasing the labour supply it contributes
Restaurant staff: You know you can rely on migrant workers. Photo: Louise Sweet, Talking Pictures
to the expansion of parts of the economy, increases productivity and this contributes to economic growth, employment and wages. Indeed, the governments Migration Advisory Committee has stated that each reduction of 10,000 in the number of skilled, non-European Union migrants coming to Britain means that more than 500 million is lost from gross domestic product. Thats big money for a country struggling to record any growth at all. The Committee also pointed out that skilled and qualified migrants make a positive contribution to public finances that is, are a benefit not a cost and play an important part in the provision of education, health and social services. Whats more, current proposals stipulate that most skilled migrant workers and their dependents should leave the UK after a maximum of five years, with no right to apply for settlement here. The British Chambers of Commerce says the policy
The policy would be incredibly disruptive to companies of all sizes, and to the UKs economic recovery
would be incredibly disruptive to companies of all sizes, and to the UKs economic recovery.... Far away from the government committees and the economic theorists, Roland Sylvester, who works at the Prince Albert pub in Battersea, has a more down-toearth view. I work with many migrants and natives. I have a very high regard for migrant workers, as they really seem to understand the value of work, he says. You know you can depend on a migrant worker to have a good work ethic - they get the job done, sometimes better than native workers. Culturally, they bring their own distinct ways of life to work. I work with men from Poland, Hungary, Egypt, Australia, Italy, Argentina. I think this enriches the work experience, as you can learn so much more from peoples that have travelled from farflung places.
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Royal migrants:
freshening up the bloodline
Olympics athletes are preparing for the meeting of a lifetime and so are many royals. Maeve Hosea and Ruchita Daswani investigate the Games link with royal romance.
JAN WILLEM Prince of Orange OSCAR II King of Sweden CARL XV King of Sweden LOUISE of Netherlands
GREAT GREAT GREAT GRANDCHilD SHARED ANCESToR by blooD oR MARRiAGE
bRoTHER
CLAUS from Germany MAXIMA from Argentina GRACE KELLY from USA ALbERT II Prince of Monaco CHARLENE from South Africa
VICTORIA
CHilD 1 CHilD 2 CHilD 3
EDWARD VII King of UK

CHilD 1
ALEXANDRA of Denmark
CHilD 2
bRoTHER
GEORGE I King of Greece
bEATRICE
HENRY of battenberg
ARTHUR Duke of Connaught
LOUISE MARGARET of Prussia
MAUD Princess of Wales
HAAKON VII GEORGE V King of Norway King of UK

SiSTER
MARY of Teck
oyalists will be hanging out the bunting again this summer when Queen Elizabeth celebrates her Diamond Jubilee. She has ruled, albeit in the loosest sense, for 60 years, and with her equestrian pursuits, iconic sense of period style and stiff upper lip, she symbolises something the world regards as quintessentially British. She bears the name of an earlier English female monarch who beat off the Spanish Armada, but shes really a very royal mixture of nationalities and genetics. With relatives in the courts of many of Europes royal families, and a genetic heritage from Germany, shes very much a product of her class. Down the ages, royal families have guarded and enhanced their power, influence and wealth through marriage with influential figures from other countries. For centuries royals have found spouses through arrangements made by parents and politicians, often seeing each other only once or twice before the wedding day. In Elizabeth IIs case, however, her choice was a dashing young exile from overseas, Philip of Greece and Denmark. A foreign spouse is no longer the preserve of
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GRANDCHilD
kings and queens. A labour market in flux and the development of a hyper-connected Internet generation are the primary causes of cross-border marriages. Arranged marriages are out of fashion and its attraction that usually sparks the journey up the aisle or into the register office. Among the glittering office buildings of Londons Square Mile a young Spanish lawyer catches the eye of his British colleague. Across town, a Polish carpenter, having recently brokenup with his girlfriend back home, is chatting to an Australian girl on an Internet dating website. Jump back 500 years and a powerful father is brokering the marriage between his eldest son and an alluring Spaniard. The marriage of Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIIs son, Arthur, was a tactical move that concluded an alliance between the two kingdoms. Two months later when Arthur died, his brother, Henry VIII, took the widowed Catherine as his wife to avoid diplomatic complications and maintain the peace with Spain. Henry VII was also the first European monarch to negotiate a peace treaty between England and Scotland, by marrying off his daughter Margaret to
the Scottish king, James IV. Like a good royal female, the Tudor scion did her duty for king and country and took Scotland as her home. Marrying cousins was another common practice among royals, usually with the intention of keeping families together, socially and economically. Queen Victoria, who married her first cousin, Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, is a prime example. The influential monarch is regarded as the grandmother of Europe because eight of her nine offspring had cross-border marriages. Her children ruled Britain, Prussia, Greece, Norway, Romania, Russia, Spain and Sweden. Tradition isnt the sexiest marketing device and cousin-marriage might be losing its allure, but royal cross-border romance remains common. Juan Carlos of Spain found romance on a cruise ship with Sofia of Greece and Denmark. Rainer III of Monaco fell in love with American actress Grace Kelly and made the queen of the silver screen his Princess Grace. With the world as his romantic oyster, their playboy son, Albert of Monaco, recently took former Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock from South Africa as his bride. The couple strike a knowing balance between antiquity and modernity.
CHilD 1
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GRAND CHilD
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CHilD 1
CHilD 2
CHilD 2
ASTRID of Sweden
LEOPOLD III King of belgium
GRAND CHilD
FREDERIK IX King of Denmark OLAV V King of Norway
INGRID of Sweden
MRTHA of Sweden
CHilD
GUSTAF ADOLF Duke of Vsterbotten
CHilD 2
INGEbORG of Denmark
CARL Prince of Sweden
VICTORIA EUGENIE of battenberg
ALFONSO XIII King of Spain
MARGARET of Connaught
GUSTAF VI ADOLF King of Sweden
The sixth Olympic ring

PRINCESS SIbYLLA of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
CHilD 1
ALbERT II King of belgium
PAOLA Princess of Calabria
JOSEPHINE of belgium
GRAND CHilD
JEAN Grand Duke of Luxembourg
HARALD V King of Norway
KONSTATIN (ex King of Greece)

bRoTHER
ANNE-MARIE
MARGRETHE Queen of Denmark
HENRI Count de Laborde de Monpezat
CHilD
CHilD
CARL XVI SILVIA GUSTAV SOMMERLATH King of Sweden from brazil
QUEEN ELIzAbETH II HENRI Grand Duke of Luxembourg MARIA TERESA from Cuba
PRINCE PHILIP Duke of Edinburgh (Denmark and Greece) JUAN CARLOS King of Spain
PRINCESS SOPHIA of Greece and Denmark (above)
FREDERIK
This is a partial family tree of connections between Europes royals.

Photographs: Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip www.defenceimages.mod.uk
MARY DONALDSON from Australia (right)
he Olympics have won the hearts of princes and princesses in more ways than one. With participants and spectators from all over the world, the quadrennial event counts as an exciting venue for people to meet and later marry. The reigning King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf, and his German Brazilian wife, Silvia Sommerlath, met at the 1972 summer Olympics in Munich, where Sommerlath was working as an interpreter. The Crown Prince of Denmark, Frederik, met Australian marketing consultant, Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, during the Sydney Olympics in 2000. They were married in May 2004. The Olympics are not just a royal spectator sport. Royal participants have included Britains Princess Anne and her daughter, Zara Phillips, Juan Carlos of Spain and Felipe, Prince of Asturias. Whose turn will it be in 2012? Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice of York and Charlotte Casiraghi of Monaco are among the eligible singles expected to attend the London games in July. The race is on.
20
This is a very rewarding c but it requires a bit of pati

Since arriving from Indian in 1969 Mihir Bose has become a journalist and writer, and an observer of British society. He talks to Pilar Balet Robinson about the changes he has seen.
You first arrived in the UK in 1969. Why did you come? I came here to study engineering, but I had no aptitude for it. I finally qualified as a chartered accountant and became a cricket journalist. In what conditions did you land in London? It was my father who made extraordinary arrangements to pay for my studies here. I got a little bit of money studying as an accountant, but every month I was overdrawn. Once, in order to get some money, I cleaned toilets at [accountancy firm] Arthur Anderson. Not that I was very good at it. They employed me once and told me not to go back again. Have things changed a lot in the UK since the 70s? Tremendously. When I came here in 1969 the Black and White Minstrel Show was the most popular show where white men would dress up as blacks. I came six months after Enoch Powells Rivers of Blood speech. That was a difficult time for non-white migrants. Later on, when I was a Sunday Times sports reporter, I was assaulted going to football matches. It wasnt easy. This country was always a tolerant country, but it has become a much more embracing country, particularly in London, where you do not feel you are in a foreign and unwelcoming land. It has changed for the better. What was it like starting your career in the media? There were very few foreign journalists, and even fewer non-white journalists. Even now there are not that many. I would telephone a football match in Manchester and would say Its Mihir, and they would say Yes, we know youre there, but who are you? I remember going to my first football match, Chelsea and Tottenham, in 1978. I sat in the press box and someone tapped me on the back and asked Who are you reporting for, the Southall Gazette? The idea that I could be reporting for the Sunday Times was difficult for some.
Mihir Bose: It wasnt easy Photo: Beth Crosland
In 1999 you wrote that Asian and black minorities should be more present in the media. It seems things havent changed much. Not enough. In that sense we should look at America. Here you see some black and Asian names, but the great majority are people from the white community. One of the reasons is not racism, but networking. You get jobs and contacts because of people you know. I tell my English journalist friends that the only Asian they know is the waiter at their local Indian restaurant. Its a question of networking and friendship. And that hasnt happened yet. Its improving, but not enough. What needs to be done? I think this has to come from the top, the editors and those with power to do it. They have to extend themselves a bit. I am not talking about positive discrimination. I like to think I never got a job because of the colour of my skin but
I tell my English journalist friends that the only Asian they know is the waiter at their local Indian restaurant
because people felt I could bring something additional. I think when they are looking at vacancies to fill, if there are five candidates and one of them, say, is an Asian or black person, perhaps they should think, Well, isnt it time we gave them a chance? I am not saying Give somebody an unfair advantage, but perhaps a chance. Not enough of that is done. Its happening, but very slowly. What are your views on Camerons immigration speech last October? This country has migration wrong in the sense of what it means. When I came here migration meant non-white migration: now people are talking of migration as Polish or Eastern European. Migration policy must seem fair, equitable. I believe the Americans and Canadians have a fair system of points where if you qualify it doesnt matter where you are from, whereas historically in the UK, if your country had links to this country you could migrate. You
21
ountry ence
could see Australian barmen working here for six months when you couldnt see Indian barmen because they didnt have links. I see that is where the policy is wrong. What kind of policy do you think we should have? A sensible policy which says we need certain people and you have to pass these qualifications. I have no problems if they say people that come to this country must speak English. Thats fine, those must be the norms. But this country seems to have fallen between the historic links and the points system. It has had a policy that has made sections of the white majority feel threatened and swamped, which has given rise to first the BNF and then the BNP. Besides, this country has got a hang up that multiculturalism doesnt work, but the fact is that there is always going to be a dominant culture that must be able to accommodate the other cultures. And the non-dominant cultures must accept that if you come from another country to live here that is the culture that will dominate. I can still find a way of coexisting with that, but I am not sure we get the balance right at times. How do you think London is preparing for the Olympics? We dont see much going on at the moment. I think when the Olympics come it will be wonderful. What we may not have is a legacy, the idea that because we have the Olympic Games people will start playing sports instead of sitting on the couch: I dont think so. There are not enough sporting facilities around and I am not sure that the young people feel the hunger that is driving, for example, Eastern Europe, which has a hunger to succeed. If you met someone who had just landed in the UK, what advice would you give? I would say that this country has a lot to offer, although it doesnt open up immediately. Its very different to the society I come from, where if you go to someones house they will offer you tea, biscuits, sweets, everything. Here, you might be offered some tea - even that might be a struggle. But after a time you will realise that if you persist and persevere there is an ingrained sense of balance, justice and tolerance and a certain awareness of the world - more than in many other countries. Not with everyone but quite a number. And if you can tap into that this is a very rewarding country. But it requires a bit of patience.
Celebrating Sanctuary: Art and music brings people together. Photo: Isata Kanneh, Celebrating Sanctuary
The medium is the message

Anne StOLtenberg
usic is great but its time to get back to the hard messages, says Isata Kanneh of Celebrating Sanctuary. The charitys aim is to use the arts to highlight the contribution made by refugees to the UK. It promotes refugee and migrant artists, organises awareness-raising activities in schools and community projects and musical events including a world music festival in June. Kanneh, who is the Events Coordinator, says the arts are a good platform for creating understanding. Art and music brings people together - although sometimes it is not enough that people come together and side-by-side in separate groups and dont interact. We try and encourage mixing, and you see how the music develops
as a result. She emphasises that the programme is not about mentoring refugee or migrant musicians: It is an equal platform for skills sharing. Kanneh got involved in the work after a long spell in an advice agency giving advice and doing research for immigration tribunals: I saw the way the asylum process was constantly getting harder, making it impossible for people. Knowing what people have gone through before coming here, and then they have to struggle with this... People make such a huge contribution to the UK, and they have a right to be safe, to make a living. She highlights the schools programme which raises awareness about refugee issues in the host community and links up settled refugee kids with newly arrived
refugee children, using music, drama and visual arts. One project entailed putting refugee musicians into four secondary schools delivering several workshops, which culminated in a performance together with the schools: First the students performed on their own, then together with the refugee musicians and then the refugee musicians gave a concert. But now, she says, we need to focus more on the awareness-raising and the open-air concerts that were popular and drew in the general public, through which we reached people who are not already aware of these issues.
read also interviews with musicians from Celebrating Sanctuary on pg 25 More about Celebrating Sanctuarys events: celebrating-sanctuary.org.uk
A growing online presence

nIcK MIcInSKI
igrants who dont have digital skills can easily be left out of essential
services. In response, the Migrant and Refugee Communities Forum (MRCF) has developed a training programme and in the last two years has trained over 80 migrant and refugee leaders in online health activities, online campaigning and the digital economy. We have learned three lessons. First, many migrants and refugees have a fear of the Internet, partly because of lack of exposure. Secondly, the Internet is as hostile an environment towards migrants as
the real world - just look at the abuse in many comment streams. Thirdly, many migrants didnt lack computers or Internet access: they lacked quality computers and highspeed connections. This is a barrier to using more complex websites or multimedia. Our experiences debunk the myth that migrants do not engage online. When MRCF launched an online video campaign to encourage migrants to participate in the UK census, the most watched video was in Somali language. Migrants are adept at overcoming barriers and are among the most innovative at adopting new technology. Many use email, Facebook, and Skype to stay
connected with family and friends at home. Others are resourceful at saving money by shopping online or re-selling used items online. Some of the most inspiring digital migrants are online campaigners. These individuals and groups have used online petitions to get the attention of councils, human rights groups, and as a response to the 2011 riots. Some blog about human rights violations back home; others focus on injustices on UK city streets. Most importantly, digitally adept migrants are working to amplify their voice so we are no longer invisible, both online and offline.
nick Micinski is communication and training officer at Migrant and refugee communities Forum
Strictly come dancing

Sarah Davidson goes dancing, and finds that for centuries Britain has been at the cultural crossroad, both as exporter and importer of fancy footwork
Arts
unless the Border Agency stops you
Lisia Moala performing Home is where the heart is; choreography Susie Crow. Moala danced in UK, but is now back in her homeland, Australia Photo: Mark Brome for Ballet in Small Spaces
wan Lake in rehearsal; the agony of dancers with injuries and aching limbs, struggling with a demanding ballet and an aggressive director. Off-stage, unseen immigration officials execute a perfect faux pas when they fail to grant the star of the show, Russian ballerina Polina Semionova, a visa to enter Britain in time for the opening night. Czech-born Daria Klimentov stepped in to save the day and English National Ballets performance at the Royal Albert Hall received ecstatic reviews. But the treatment of artists such as Semionova by the UK Borders Agency is not unique. In 2009, Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami cancelled plans to direct Cos Fan Tutte for English National Opera after a visa was first granted then withdrawn. Last year Russianborn US poet Alex Galper was put in a cell and deported after coming to Britain to read his poems at a charity event. It wasnt always like this. For centuries Britain has been at the crossroads of dance, and both cultural importer and exporter. What if, in centuries past, national borders had been closed to dance and dancers? What would dance look like today? The only dancing in England, a friend suggested, would be Morris dancing: men in bells, waving sticks at each other. But is Morris dancing actually English? Some think it is based on the court dances of medieval Europe, others that the quaint English dance comes from Spain where it marked the
What if, in centuries past, national borders had been closed to dance and dancers? What would dance look like today?
battles in which Catholics defeated Moors. Or the other way around. Clog dancing was a byproduct of Britains Industrial Revolution. Wooden-shod workers were gathered in the mines and factories of Scotland, Wales and urban north England. British and Irish migrant workers took clog dancing to North America, where it met the juba dancing of West Africa and the plantation dances of slaves. Popular dance metamorphosed. In 1842 Charles Dickenss American Notes described a performance by the legendary Master Juba, stage name of African-American William Henry Lane, and, according to Dickens, the greatest dancer known. Lanes performances in London and his tour of England and Scotland in the late 1840s caused a sensation. It could, as one critic put it, only be believed by those who have been present. But descriptions of the speed, precision and sound of his steps underscore the reasons for Master Jubas reputation as the founding father of tap. Londons music halls and theatres were also home to ballet in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Renaissance Italy but using the language of France, ballet had rapidly spread through Europe, Russia and beyond. With notable exceptions, much 19th century ballet in England relied on European exiles and migrs to bring new music and choreography and to take principal roles. War in Europe brought refugee Georges Jacobi to London where he composed and conducted for numerous West End ballets
With help from Susie Crow of Ballet In Small Spaces, Oxford
before becoming a professor at the Royal Academy of Music. Adeline Gene, cofounder and first president of what is today Britains Royal Academy of Dance, was born Anina Jensen in Denmark and made her professional debut in Oslo. After the Russian revolution, the legendary Ballets Russes (Russian Ballets), was based in Monaco and performed at length in Britain. Now legendary international names were associated with the Ballets Russes and its productions Nijinsky, Stravinsky, Picasso. The strength of this Russian-international brand help explain why British dancers of the 20th century, including Alicia Markova and Ninette de Valois, who danced with the Ballets Russes, assumed foreign stage names. British dance has proved a highly successful export, whether through international tours of ballet or musicals, through the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus taught all over the world by Genes successors, or through lucrative sale of licences for the BBCs Strictly Come Dancing. The British TV show format has been sold to 35 broadcasters in 75 countries, making it an important source of export earnings. But for the sake of dance and dancers and their audiences lets hope Britain retains its reputation as a cultural crossroad. And that other countries take their attitude to dance import and export from the Ballets Russes and the BBC, not the British Borders Agency.
1mile Cardiff India Dance Wales performance Photo: Toby Cameron
Wow, this is all here

DonnA VoSE
hink global, act local might well be the motto of 1mile, which inspires communities to explore the cultural and ecological diversity of their neighbourhoods through art. In Smethwick, people created a canal-side arts and nature trail. There are lots of places I havent explored yet, commented Smethwick resident Elvira Ciku. Its only now with this project that Ive had a chance to see the canal. I didnt know it existed and I was Wow, all this is here! . Its not just the canal on view: there are new art objects based on local wildlife. In Bradford, artist Chen Hangfeng from Shanghai and local ecologist Charlie Gray helped local people create images of different varieties of Yorkshire apples using recycled materials and techniques inspired by Chinese botanical ink paintings. The project opened my perceptions of Bradford and its diversity. We got a different view of the cultures, biodiversity, languages, colours and shapes of Bradford the things that make this city unique, said Ana Jimenez. Cardiff celebrated its first year of 1mile with dance performances by India Dance Wales, Ballet Nimba and Jukebox. Other UK projects have taken place in Birmingham, Edinburgh and London.
More about the organisation: www.square-mile.net
Sharmanka: Eerie figures Photo: Anna Strzalkowska
Glasgows kinetic wonderland

MArzAnnA AntoniAk
1mile Bradford - workshop Photo: Chen Hangfen
tep through the door of the Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre and you enter the dimly-lit, surreal and haunted world of the most magical of Glasgows hidden treasures. Scores of free-standing mechanical figures and contraptions fashioned from scrap metal and wood come jerkily to life, beautiful and grotesque, humorous and frightening, animated by pulleys, chains and flywheels, and accompanied by bells, whirrings, whistles and clangs. Self-taught Russian-Jewish kinetic sculptor Eduard Bersudsky has created an ingenious, bizarre union of mechanics and art through which he gives us complex tragicomic stories of the human spirit or, if you are more prosaic, fascinatingly weird and wonderful animated cabinets of curiosities. Over time, the gallery has become a multimedia creation, drawing in other artists. A collaboration with the Derevo Dance Theatre and other performers as well as monthly music performances at the gallery are an attempt to unify the visual and auditory art of the old sewing and writing machines, bicycle wheels and other pieces of industrial machinery with human ingenuity. On the first Thursday of the month bands play music inspired by Bersudskys sculptures. The sculptors wife and artistic partner, Tatyana Jakovskaya, sets them in motion and they clatter and creak, whirling round and round, up and down, to the rhythm of the musicians while colourful synchronised lights make dancing shadows on the walls. The impetus that brought Sharmanka (Russian for hurdy-gurdy or street organ) to Scotland can be found in Bersudskys works. The Last Eagle of the Highlands, for example, recalls the plight of majestic birds whose huge wing-spans prevented them hunting when commercial spruce trees were planted too densely. Many
left their homeland: So too did many people of different nationalities when they could not find enough space to spread their wings. In Soviet Russia, where there was no support for anything but state-approved art, Bersudsky felt he, too, couldnt spread his wings. High rents, racism and a culture of bribery influenced the couples decision to leave. They were invited to exhibit in Glasgow by the director of the McLellan Galleries and decided to stay. It was tough in the beginning. Visa problems split the family. Jakovskaya was given only a limited work permit so couldnt bring her son, Sergey, who now designs the lighting and sound for the sculptures. A breakthrough came in 1993 when a friend, furnituremaker Jim Stead, helped them settle in Blainslie in the Scottish Borders, where they quickly made friends. As soon as people realised that Eduard was a hands-on and hardworking man, they started treating him as one of their own, Jakovskaya recalls. Its easier to understand each other when you work together. In rural Scotland, people know history, they know about all those Scots who left the country and it is maybe easier for them to sympathise with migrants. Bersudskys increasingly draws from Scottish myths and history. Jakovskaya backs this up pointing to certain similarities between Celts and Slavs, between eastern and western European cultures: The Baltic sea was connecting, not dividing. Recalling the familys first visit to the Glasgow School of Art, where they were surprised at the similarity between Charles Rennie Mackintoshs architecture and Art Nouveau buildings in their native St. Petersburg, she comments, It was so close to establishing a European cultural union. These ideas are very much alive at Sharmanka. So, too, mysteriously, are Bersudskys carvings and contraptions.
Sharmanka is at trongate 103, Glasgow G1 5HD.
24

Bukia (left): A lot of opportunities Photo: Lako Bukia From Bukias SS 2012 collection Lako Bukia. Photo: Simon Armstrong Below From Emesha Nagys SS 2012. Photo: Latiff Napoleon-Johari
Outsiders gift to the capital of fashion
Ruchita Daswani, puts her glad rags on and drops in on a couple of fashionistas
Nagy believes that designers can create something unique, or add zing to their collections by allowing their personality and culture to appear in their designs. Hungary has a very rich culture and as a child we were encouraged to learn a lot about our history and customs, she says. I wasnt really all that interested in it back then but have now learned to appreciate where I come from and Im sure this influences my designs. Another young designer, Lako Bukia, from Georgia, agrees that London now one of the big four fashion capitals, alongside Milan, New York and Paris is attracting talent from abroad. With all the best schools, London is the best place to study fashion, she says. Being so multicultural it presents a lot of opportunities for young, fresh
ondon has become a magnet for fashion designers, says Emesha Nagy, a designer from Hungary. London has a great vibe and is so inspiring, she says. There are lots of events throughout the year and many opportunities within the industry, with various support systems for emerging designers. London designers are acknowledged worldwide and this is why many fashion designers move to London to fulfil their dream. Nagy worked with top British designers such as Vivienne Westwood and Jasper Conran before starting her own label, Emesha, in 2009. Emesha, a contemporary luxury label for women who appreciate classics with a twist, says it uses sustainable fabrics to show that eco-friendliness can be fashionable. The label has won several awards, including last years Fashion Press Week prize.
designers, always promoting and motivating new talents. Bukia first came to London to visit her sister, who was studying here. She fell in love with the citys fashion culture and stayed on to do a foundation course at Central Saint Martins University of Art and Design, followed by a London College of Fashion degree.
I wanted to continue my studies in the best fashion university in the world, and then, after being in London for so long, it felt like home. So I wanted to see if it would work and it just happened and I am still here. Naturally, she says, she incorporates her Georgian origins into her collections. Georgia is a very old, historic and traditional country, and that tradition never leaves me. Most of my designs are very romantic and they come from my country, and my roots, she says. This is our gift. People who come from outside the country and different cultures can do something different and unique.
25
How to stay in tune with world music

Three musicians tell Anne Stoltenberg why they are happy to call Birmingham home
lack Sabbath, members of Led Zeppellin, UB40, Duran Duran, Ozzy Ozbourne: Birmingham has been the birthplace of many famous UK singer songwriters and bands. Just as migration from the Caribbean in the 50s brought reggae influence to the citys music scene, more recent migrants are creating new sounds. Steve Yimga says Birminghams multicultural music scene is one of the things he likes about the city. When I first moved here, it wasnt as diverse, but it has developed. African and Asian international artists have been coming to perform in the city, and it has brought new life to the music. Yimga grew up listening to all kinds of music, and taught himself percussion, but it was not until he came here from Cameroon 10 years ago that he became serious about it. When I went to school in the UK the music teacher encouraged me to play music, he recalls. But I never had lessons, I taught myself, I improvised and I learned. He now has his own band, Crossroad Collision. The beauty of Birminghams new sounds is that you cant put them into a category. Yimga says he doesnt feel his sound is typically African. Even when I play the djembe, it sounds different from how other African players play it. Then again, this idea of African music is limited, because there is no one sound: South African, Senegalese, Congolese, not to mention North African music - it all has completely different sounds. His sources of inspiration can be surprising. I have an undergraduate degree in international relations and politics and a postgrad in international development. I am interested in those ideas and maybe they inspire me in what I want to say with a song. When he gives music workshops he doesnt teach only rhythm and drumming and new instruments: he brings in African culture and history: I take that opportunity to talk about any important issue, be it about the economy, refugees, LGBT issues. I have worked in prisons doing workshops, with kids or with corporations. It is about using music and rhythm to teach social skills and encouraging team building.
Steve Yimga on drums and, below, Ben Pathy. Photos: Ruchita Daswani
For another Birmingham musician, Dilan Karim, music runs in the family. His father was a music teacher whose pupils included his son, since few teachers were able to teach traditional Kurdish instruments in Germany where Karim spent his childhood after the family left Iraq. He plays many instruments, but mainly the oud, and performs traditional Kurdish music at concerts all over the UK. He also challenges himself by playing Western classical music on the oud. I play music solo and with a band called Awazi Win, which means lost melody. We live all over the UK, so if we have a concert we meet up two days before and practise intensively. Karim feels that the UK has opportunities for musicians but can also benefit from the musicians from around the world who live here: We introduce them to the sounds of new instruments like the oud, Kaman and santoor, and to new sounds played in new ways. Music is a way to create dialogue across communities, he adds. It is an ice-breaker. But he would like more British audiences to hear his bands unfamiliar sounds. I am always disappointed if it is only the Kurdish community. For Ben Pathy, Music is in my blood - it
It is about using music and rhythm to teach social skills and encouraging team building
is a part of my life. The Angolan author, singer, drummer and composer began attending a music academy in Luanda and later started directing choirs. But his career, too, took a new shape as a result of his journeys. He had to leave, so moved to Lisbon then UK. Pathy is clear about the potential of music to express feelings, and to inform and educate, and he is involved in community work as well as conducting music workshops in schools. I believe music can be very informative and educative. Parents dont have the time to educate their kids, and kids listen to music and music is educative - so problem solved. He has messages he wants to convey through music, whether with his own band, Afro Mio, or through other initiatives. All my songs are about society. I sing about whatever is going on in the community, in the world, particularly Africa. He also wants to promote the message of peace and love through his music. Ben Pathy feels he has arrived home now, after 14 years in the UK. UK has adopted me, my life is here now. I miss Angola, but I love Birmingham. I want to continue to do more community work here. Its all about the community.
For more interviews with Birmingham musicians, please go to: www.migrantvoice.org
26
From
Nishit Morsawala profiles a group fighting for domestic workers rights, and talks to its indefatigable founder
eople come to our doors with nothing but the clothes on their backs, says Marissa Begonia, the founder of Justice for Domestic workers (J4DW): How can we not help them? J4DW is a self- help group for migrant domestic workers who have escaped abusive and sometimes brutal employers. We have members from all over the world: Asia, Africa, South America - no matter if we speak different languages and come from different backgrounds, were family, and family help each other out, she says. Help might come in the form of a whipround (every month, we collect 1 from our members and donate it to a new member), legal advice or new skills. The organisation, set up in 2009 and now with about 300 members, also campaigns for migrant
Domestic workers visa rally, 2011. Photo: J4DW
Youngsters break into a museum

Marion Vargaftig takes pleasure in an unusual video project
group of youngsters has broken into the Museum of London and won a pat on the back for doing so. Their adventure was so successful that copycat break-ins are being considered in Brussels, Dublin, Rome and Toronto. And its all in a good cause. Under the Breaking into the Museum project, 14 young Londoners each produced a short film, of 1 to 3 minutes, inspired by one of the 2 million objects in the Museum of Londons collection. The films range from mini-documentaries to evocative pieces, including performances by the film-makers themselves. Before this project I just didnt give a damn about history, says Anais Mika. I thought: why would I be interested in something that does not relate to me as a person or my generation. But when I chose my piece, which was a painting about the Brixton Riots, I was so surprised to learn that these riots happened just a few metres from where I live. It was like, wow, I did not know that! Some of the films have won awards, like that by 20-year-old student Chris Lamontagne, a 20 year old student from
Westminster. When I heard that I had won two awards, it was a massive shock. At first I didnt understand how my video could have so much impact. It was after hearing the comments from friends and family that I realised how powerful this video was. It gave me a voice to express myself to a wider world to show undercover sociological aspects in Western countries. It inspires me and gives me more confidence in reaching for success in life. Thats the sort of response Colin Prescod and I hoped for when we launched Manifesta, the not-for-profit organisation that sponsored the museum project. Its key themes are cultural diversity, social exclusion/inclusion and antiracism. You can see the 14 films by scanning a code next to the exhibits into you smart phone (and while you are there you can take a look at the museums excellent displays on London migration).
Marion Vargaftig is director of Manifesta For more information and to watch the films www.manifesta.org.uk
Young filmmakers view their work (above); Anais Mika (below): Surprised Photos: Museum of London
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slavery to self-help
workers rights. Its current priority is to stop a government proposal to abolish domestic workers right to change their job. That would put workers completely at the mercy of their employer, leaving them open to abuse and exploitation. Listening to members of the group tell of their experiences can be harrowing. Miralina, for example, was physically and mentally abused by her employer, wrongly accused of being an illegal immigrant and detained by the UK Border Agency. It was her case that led to the founding of J4DW. It is the only organisation that represents who I am and what my problems are, and it has helped me in every way possible, says Miralina. Sarla, 39, from India, was given no pay and was allowed to leave the house only if
We have to keep going, spread the message, educate others
accompanied by her employers children. Her employers hid her passport. She finally escaped and managed to regain her documents with the help of Kalayaan, a group that often works with J4DW in helping domestic workers. If it wasnt for J4DW and the current laws in the UK, so many of us would have just been stuck in slavery, says Sarla, who is now an active member of the group. Other members have moved on from tragic pasts to play an active role in campaigning for equal rights. One of them is Khadija, a 44-year-old Moroccan. You see how we stay together? she says, gesturing around the room where everybody is chatting animatedly. If youre a part of this, youll understand our friendship, how we all teach each other about our rights.
We have to keep going, spread the message, educate others. I am so happy with what I do here, adds Khadija, who is now deputy chairman of J4DW. The shift of many of the groups members from destitution and disorientation to self-help and activism is a feature of the organisation. I remember there was a rally in Manchester and some of our members had assembled there expecting me to be there, recalls Begonia. They told me, You are our leader, where are you, what will we do without you? And I said No, youre all leaders, you dont need me for anything. And now if I ever accompany them to hand out leaflets or to protests, they end up drawing a bigger audience of listeners than I do.
A date? Book the whole restaurant for me

When Marissa Begonia is asked out on a date, she replies, Can you please book the whole restaurant for me? If asked why, she explains, Because I have three children and my organisation has hundreds of people! The reality is that 41-year-old Begonia works pretty much non-stop Theres no time for my own life really, she admits. Shes not complaining: shes fought tenaciously to keep her children together, she looks after them, provides for them, works as a full-time nannyhousekeeper for a family in London, and heads Justice For Domestic Workers (J4DW), through which she has changed hundreds of lives across the UK. She has also written a book about her experiences, Cry of a Migrant, and won a protracted legal case and a campaigning award. In the day she takes care of her employers child, in the evenings she spends time with her own children and studies for a community development research course, and at weekends she works for J4DW, attending seminars, conducting meetings, holding workshops and teaching. Shes happy with the family for whom she has worked for seven years (They are so loving and understanding of my work as a J4DW campaigner I couldnt be happier that they trust me with their family), but she has known hard times. In her homeland, The Philippines, her husband left her and made no attempt to keep in touch with the children. She was forced to work abroad as the only way of earning enough to pay for medical treatment for one of her children. I can still feel the pain of the day I was forced to leave them, she recalls, but if I hadnt, my son wouldnt have been alive today. I dont feel any guilt because I wanted to keep them alive, I wanted a better living that they children. It killed me that the day I was awaiting for so long was not going to happen for no good reason at all I couldnt bear thinking about it, she recalls. The officials doubted her claim to have sole responsibility for the children because their father was still alive. It still rankles: Their father is alive but worse than dead: my children never saw him after he left. For 17 long years he never made an effort to look for his children. My whole life is about my children ... the deception accusation was absurd. Fortunately, she received help from activists she had befriended who put her in touch with lawyers who agreed to fight her case for free. We worked day and night, sometimes until 2am and then back at 6am, she says. But its all worth it to be a family again. Begonia, however, never falls into self-pity. I had been through different forms of abuse but I wasnt really aware of the worst of it, she says. After the formation of J4DW in 2009, my fellow members educated me so much. Being with J4DW has made me realise how lucky I am to write, speak, listen, express my views and be armed with knowledge and skills. In the beginning, whenever one of us needed to speak up at our meetings I ended up speaking or answering the questions because nobody else would. I soon realised it was because they didnt know how to, and I ended up helping them, teaching them to read and write. It made me realise that they needed someone who truly understands their vulnerability and needs, and suddenly I was healed. All that anger and frustration was gone. When we share our problems, our stories and the happy moments, we actually make each other stronger.
Workers rights: Marissa Begonia at an International Labour Organisation meeting
Begonia recently won an award from the organisation Anti-Slavery International, which was presented by Immigration Minister Damian Green. In her acceptance speech she quoted a story from a domestic worker named Lakshmi: My employer would lock me in my room after I finished my work at midnight and unlock my room at 4.30a.m. so I could start my work again. I was caged. My body would tremble with hunger as I drank water so I could survive every day, I thought of dying and that I would never see my family again. As I searched for my way out to survive I found my fellow domestic workers in Justice for Domestic Workers
deserve, I wanted the best future for my children, and for me that is love and responsibility. One of her toughest battles occurred when she came to the UK as a domestic worker and applied for her children to join her. The UK Border Agency refused her application for her two younger
NM
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Keeping the faith

Puck de Raadt
am often asked what the churches involvement in asylum is, as though the speaker assumes it is small. This is because the churches practical, under-the-radar work is mostly unreported. In reality, more often than not, support for asylum-seekers and migrants, as well as responding to poorly thought-out policies, is done by faith members or by faith organisations, acting on the principles of justice and love of neighbour. There are church- and faith-based welfare drop-in centres in cities throughout the country where migrants are welcomed, fed and watered, can use internet and phone facilities, and find signposting for legal and medical help, as well as talk to people to help them decide what to do next with their life. The centres negotiate with stressed local authority officials, with GPs and hospital departments and immigration authorities; they run English classes, crches, clothes stores. Often they provide bus fares for those who live long journeys away. There are centres in Birmingham (one of the first local authorities to stop providing housing to asylum-seekers), Blackburn, Cardiff, Coventry, Dover, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Nottingham, Oxford, Portsmouth, Southampton, Swansea, Wrexham and that list is incomplete. As one church report noted last year, Many volunteers working in drop-in centres are shocked by the stories of abuse and illtreatment suffered by asylum-seekers. Yet they are inspired by the courage of those who have still remained hopeful. Churches frequently find and help distressed asylum-seekers or migrants in their midst during prayers. At a recent joyous and colourful London assembly of Diaspora Citizens some 900 testified as to what is needed in dealing with migrants including listening to the voices of migrants themselves. Church members are being trained as Sign-Posters, in which they are provided with a basic knowledge of immigration procedures to help migrants solve their immigration problems. The scheme has the support of the Office of the Immigration Commissioner. These are just a fraction of the churchs activities in this field, work that has been made even more important by the rapid shrinking of public sector resources, regionally and nationally. In the face of a hurricane of cuts, the faith sector is working hard to find creative responses that might renew the Good Society and protect against community disintegration.
Detention centre, Campsfield: Unnecessary detentions are hugely wasteful. Photo: Celeste Hibbert
Banged up for no with no time-lim

Jerome Phelps Jerome Phelps looks at the plight of people who come to Britain in search of sanctuary - and find themselves imprisoned
nly migrants can be locked up without time-limit, for no crime, and without automatic review by the courts. Most migrants who are detained have committed no crime; none are serving a criminal sentence: they lose their liberty simply because of their immigration status. In recent years the number of migrants in detention at any one time has increased tenfold to around 3,800. New detention centres have been built as high-security prisons. And the lengths of time that migrants spend in detention have increased dramatically. Sami has been in the UK for eight years. In October 2009 he was detained and spent 14 months in four different detention centres. With the help of a charity, he was released on bail. Sami did not commit a crime nor could he be sent back to the land from which he fled persecution. As far as he is concerned, his only crime is seeking sanctuary. If you have committed a crime, you know when you will be out, he says. But asylumseekers do not know how long they will be kept inside. Your life stands still. I still remember very clearly, in April 2010, the day another detainee was unwell and asked to see a doctor at around
I am a builder and a gardener by profession. All I want is to go back to working in my profession and to live a normal life without fear, just like everybody else
midnight, says Sami. He was told it was too late to get a doctor, and was asked to wait till the morning. He kept returning to the staff complaining of his health with no success in convincing the officers to call a nurse or a doctor, until he died at around 2am. I felt life was worthless. Desperation rapidly sets in. You have no freedom. You do not feel human. You struggle to understand why you are locked up. You are helpless. You are not released, or deported. I am a builder and a gardener by profession. All I want is to go back to working in my profession and to live a normal life without fear, just like everybody else. Or take the case of Abdullah, who was detained 21 months ago. He has ways of coping, but nevertheless has found it difficult. I am an artist, he says. I am always in my room alone, painting when I can get the materials. It is also a good distraction from being locked up in immigration detention and the threat of being deported to Mogadishu in Somalia one of the most dangerous places to live in the world. Its the place where my brothers were killed. He has been in the UK nine years since claiming asylum. At one point, forbidden to
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Lost in translation
Guy TAylor Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants
crime, it
work or study, he stole from a shop and was jailed. When released, he was detained for overstaying the time he was allowed in Britain. He could not be deported because Somalia is so dangerous. Yet his release on bail was repeatedly refused. I love this country. But now they want to deport me so they are holding me in detention, he says. But every time I go for bail to get out of here, the Home Office barrister says that they will be able to send me back soon. Its a lie, but the judges believe them. So they keep me here. For Abdullah, the bottom line is that I am a human being, it is not right to detain us for an indefinite amount of time when they cant deport us. He was finally released on bail just before Christmas, and is back with his family. But those two wasted years of his life are lost forever. As I write, 180 people have been in detention for over a year, and 74 for more than two years. Yet long-term detention is a failed policy. The longer someone is detained, the less likely they are to be deported. Detaining migrants unnecessarily for years, at a time of swingeing cuts to public services, is hugely wasteful. It costs the taxpayer 47,000 a year to detain one migrant.
Jerome Phelps is Director of Detention Action.
he Court of Appeal is preparing to hear a case challenging the governments new rule that spouses wishing to join their partners in Britain must first pass a language test. Guy Taylor of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants explains why his organisation is vehemently opposed to the test. Damian Green, the immigration minister, would argue that the requirement that husbands and wives take a language test before they are allowed to join their spouses already living here is designed to help integration. The rule, he would say, will ensure that migrants can communicate with the people they will meet every day in Britain. The idea is simply to help people coming here to have an easier time. At first sight, the insistence that people need to speak English to be able to integrate in British society seems perfectly reasonable. But lets look at a specific example. Fahad is from Yemen, married to a UK citizen and trying to get through his language test so he can join his wife in Britain. Fahad was headmaster of a school in Yemen and is now studying English in Jordan, where the standard of English teaching is higher than in Yemen (and where its considerably safer). His wife is working in the UK and cannot join him in Jordan because they wouldnt have an income. If Fahad could study here, his wife could help him, English-language teachers in the UK would benefit from more work, he would instantly be mixing with other people at English lessons and the standard of his English would be better than if he learnt elsewhere. When I visited an English-language course at Tower
Hamlets College in London last year, I found teachers and students all making immense efforts to ensure that learning English was a rounded experience that embraced learning about the borough, the city and English culture. The newspaper they produced about the college and their lives was testament to the way their course was helping them integrate into the wider society. The Government has chosen to deny these opportunities to future migrants. The effects of pre-entry testing are far-reaching. The waiting involved as someone tries to qualify for a visa can take years. Farhad and his wife married a year ago and he doesnt seem very close to passing his English test. I know of a woman trying to study for an English test in Darfur in Sudan, so she can join her husband, Mohammed, in London. For years, Darfur has been riven by warfare and disease. People are struggling to stay alive, not raise the standard of the teaching of English. Mohammeds eight-year-old daughter doesnt know where shell be from one day to the next, whether her life will be primarily conducted in English or Arabic. Ironically, some of the people hardest hit by the preentry language requirement are British citizens. This government, supporters of a big society and a small state, are telling their own citizens who they can and cannot marry and live with in the UK. The double standards are startling: many Brits live in places such as Spain, Cyprus and Portugal, in enclaves where only English is spoken. Throughout the history of Britain, different languages have come into the country, introduced by large-scale immigration, and English itself has many influences from languages that have travelled the world. So why the uproar when a couple of streets in East London or Bradford ring to the sound of a different language? Its all a part of the UKs rich developing history.
Is there a refugee doctor in the house?

FAhirA MulAMehic
wo problems: hospitals need more doctors, and refugee doctors need work but are not allowed to practice. Solution: help refugee doctors qualify. Thats what The Building Bridges programme offers. Doctors with a refugee background have qualifications, skills, experience and often specialisations, but they have to overcome many barriers the first of which, for many, is achieving an adequate level of English. The formal requirements prescribed by the General Medical Council state that refugee doctors have to pass two tests: one measuring the ability to communicate in English in reading, writing, listening and speaking; the other testing ability to practise medicine safely in a UK hospital. They also have to understand the NHS system, its culture, ethos and practice. That may have to be learned from scratch. In addition, an absence of professional references from UK employers significantly reduces their employment prospects. Clinical attachments can provide doctors with invaluable UK experience and the opportunity to obtain
a UK reference. This involves a period of 1-3 months attached to a clinical unit, with a named supervisor, learning about the legal, ethical and cultural context of medical practice through observing hospital teams in their day-to day activities. But attachments are difficult to get and there is usually a charge involved. Furthermore, recruitment in the UK may be different from the process in their home country, and doctors may need support to hone the necessary skills such as creating a professional CV, filling in job applications and being interviewed. It is vital to provide refugee doctors with high quality and timely advice to help them avoid long delays and more career gaps. The package of services offered by the Building Bridges programme to refugee doctors in London has so far helped 26 doctors obtain NHS jobs that match their experience and qualifications. Many more clients have secured intermediary jobs while working towards their full General Medical Council membership. A lot of work is involved, but its a bargain. The estimated cost of training a UK doctor is between 200,000 and 250,000, compared with about 25,000 to get a refugee doctor back to practising medicine.
Fahira Mulamehic works for the refugee healthcare Professionals Programme at the refugee council.
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Rafael Garcia with son Toni: Its always been this way. Photo: Beth Crosland
A free ride to Spain in Portobello Road

afael Garca is pleasant and soft-spoken, with an easy smile. The lines on his face suggest another side to his story: hard work. Rafael is the owner of Garcia and Sons, the first Spanish shop in London, located since 1957 in Portobello Road. Garcia is a pillar of every Spaniards well-being in the city, with a welcome for everyone. Some of British Prime Minister David Camerons delicatessen treats come from his shop. Ana Aznar, daughter of former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, has been a customer and Arsenal football star Cesc Fabregas treated it as his local shop until he returned to Barcelona. Fifty years ago, all this was unimaginable. Born in Malaga, Rafael Garca was one of thousands in the exodus sparked by the civil war. He was two years old in 1939 when his family sought refuge in the nearby British territory of
Pilar Balet Robinson visits the Garca family shop in London, and finds that its a home-from home if youre Spanish, and a source of treats even if you are not
Gibraltar. With the Second World War threatening the colony, the British authorities started the deportation of the Spanish refugees. They were sent to various places and the Garca family was split up. His father was sent to London to work in an ammunition factory and young Rafael was transferred to the Caribbean colony of Jamaica with his pregnant mother. When the war was over Rafael, his mother and little brother were again transferred to Italy. From there, they travelled to France and finally London, where he was reunited with his father in the Portobello area of west London. Rafael was 14: this year he turned 76. Garca senior and junior started the shop and 54 years later Rafael runs it with his son, Toni. Garcias and the convent of Spanish nuns located a bit further up attracted many Spaniards to this neighbourhood, remembers Rafael.
Portobello was the place with the highest number of Spaniards in London at the time. Entering the shop you are instantly transported to any grocery store in Spain. It smells of manchego cheese, vinegar and smoked meat. It has neon lights and its shelves are full of tuna fish from the Cantabric sea (Bay of Biscay to Brits), canned vegetables and the typical sobaos pasiegos. For Spaniards, its like a free ride home. Its a family business whose clients are Spanish and British nationals in equal proportion: Its always been this way says Garca.
Rafael Garca was not able to return to Spain until political amnesty was declared in 1976. He was 37. I was so eager to be back that when my passport took so long at the consulate I asked if there was anything wrong. The official at the desk blurted out Are you in a hurry after all this time?, he recalls fondly. Rafael is now married to Carmen. They have two sons and three grandchildren. He often goes back to Spain to rest, to the country he left when he was only two. But hes built another home here, for us all to enjoy, in Portobello Road.
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Why Jamil likes to watch seeds grow

Migrant Voice talks to a community activist who never stops activating
igrants such as Fathi Elsadig Jamil are often living illustrations of the saying that You never know what life will bring. He arrived in Britain from Sudan in 1989 to pursue a career in international development. A quarter of a century later hes still here. He decided to stay in the UK, where his wife and children eventually joined him, when the situation in Sudan deteriorated and he saw how dangerous it would be for his family. Hes certainly left his mark, and continues to do so at the Community Resource & Information Service (CRIS) office in Birmingham. When I was at university here, I was approached by so many people refugees, asylum-seekers, migrants from my own country and from others who asked for help and support, he recalls. I eventually decided to organise and manage community development organisations to help and support local communities that had no means to
Fathi Jamil: Its good to support people.
communicate their problems before. He reckons he has helped set up about 60 organisations, and still gives occasional guidance to many of them. But he has a reputation for founding organisations, helping them grow and then letting them function by themselves when he thinks they are self-sufficient. I dont believe in exercising total control over something just because I helped build it. Thats not why I do this, he says. Its good to support people and
their communities. When you plant seeds, you see that they grow intro big trees, and watching them flourish is what makes me want to continue. He was pleased to discover recently that two organisations he helped establish in Sudan, before he came to Britain, are still functioning: One is for women and another for young people to learn and practise music, and some of them have even become stars at national level! Only two of the organisations he has helped establish here are
exclusive to his native community: the Sudanese Expatriates Foundation and the Birmingham Sudanese Cultural Foundation. Others include the Arab Womens Association, Smethwick Active Womens Network and Youth Voice. His work with the Birmingham Leadership Foundation, for example, was with all young people in the city young white British as well as those from black and ethnic communities. The changes that occurred in this country in the last 20 years have an impact on all young people, who feel neglected and have more challenges in their lives. What about racism? Does that affect his work in building communities? It exists, he says, but is less than in other parts of Europe, and is concentrated in areas of poverty and competition for jobs and other resources. People are trying to integrate, he says, but they also like to keep some of their own culture and identity. He believes strongly that British society can accommodate people of different cultures, religions and ways of life but who can still contribute to the wider society. He misses Sudan, which he visits every one or two years, and is unsure whether hell go back to live there someday. Its hard to tell what life will bring.
Her ID card says: No recourse to public funds

Jason Bergen
etsy Reed moved to Edinburgh from the US to complete a masters degree. She knew she wanted to stay and establish her career in the UK and has worked hard over the last eight years to do so. As head of campaigns at Zero Waste Scotland, a delivery body for the Scottish government, a typical Monday and Tuesday is spent in the office, supporting and managing a team of 14. Almost any day could include overseeing the growth of a new community volunteer
programme, managing environmental campaigns like Love Food Hate Waste or Recycle for Scotland, meeting civil servants, contributing to a ministerial briefing or to a meeting on planning. My life is just like most peoples here in Scotland. I work, I see my goddaughter and friends, I spend time with my partner, I pay National Insurance. Theres one big difference, though: I have to apply to the UK Borders Agency roughly every two years for permission to stay and contribute in the place that has become
my home. Its stressful, and its certainly not cheap: I have a savings account to pay for visa applications, each of which cost me well over 1,000. Previously, Reed worked as a senior policy researcher for a former Scottish government minister, and as director of the Scottish Fair Trade Forum (SFTF), where she developed and led Scotlands work to become one of the worlds first Fair Trade Nations. I dont feel theres any question that I have contributed positively as a migrant to UK society and to its economy, she says. I work hard, I pay taxes, but I am not entitled to any benefits. I actually have to carry an ID card that, along with containing all my biometric data in a chip on the back, says No recourse to public funds.
I find it alarming that immigrants are far too regularly misrepresented by certain groups and by the media as people who come to the UK to use public services and benefits, when I know from experience that many of us actually come here to work hard and to pay tax that supports services were not actually entitled to access. I cant wait until the day I am officially British and Scottish, she adds with a smile. After having studied, worked and paid taxes in the UK for nearly nine-and-a-half years, I should finally be eligible to apply for a UK passport. Then, Ill be able to relax a bit and live my life like anyone else, without feeling slightly nervous that rules could change and my next visa application could be denied.
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English Defen
Though the English Defence League is relatively small in numbers it has become the most vociferous far-right force in the UK since the National Front in the 1970s. Ruth Smeeth assesses its impact.
T
EDL demo... Photo: Hope Not Hate
wo convictions for violence last year for the leader of the far-right, anti-Muslim English Defence League (EDL) and a bitter internal feud in the north-east are finally crippling the organisation. Already shaken by being linked with the Norwegian mass murderer, Anders Breivik, the EDLs leadership is beginning to witness investigations into the political, personal and business lives and interests of its senior personnel. The anti-racist organisation Hope Not Hate has long argued that as well as racism, the EDL is driven by a desire for confrontation and violence that should warrant the same level of attention as some
of the more extreme Islamist groups that operate in the UK. As part of a growing European and North American anti-Muslim network, the EDL also deserves a response from civil society because it brings a whole series of demands, social and cultural misunderstandings and growing opportunities for damage to community cohesion in this country. From some within the EDLs shrinking orbit there has been a growing call for a change of direction. Two-and-a-half years since its creation, not even the EDLs leadership is clear on where the future lies for the organisation. As the large-scale demonstrations begin to tail off with fewer and fewer people taking
A dream that will put ndoll and alloco
ERNEST YEYAP
Karibu activities: A lot of potential. Photos: Natalia Partyka
izza, kebab, Singapore noodles, poisson brais, alloco, ndoll, jollof er, sorry, say again I didnt quite catch the last few dishes. But you will, if Karibu Scotlands plans are realised. The organisation that is supporting African women to settle into life in Glasgow intends to open a caf in Govan this year. It has a business plan, Karibu members have obtained food hygiene certificates and been on customer and accounting courses. We want the Scottish population to know about where were coming from, and what we
eat, says staff member Charlotte Atta. You see the Chinese and Asian populations here cooking their food, so why not us? In five years time we want to see African restaurants and cafes around, not only Asian and Chinese. Dont doubt her, because she says like Martin Luther King said, Karibu has a dream! I see Karibu in a big building with lots of offices, we have a lot of potential - maybe run a sewing school, and the caf will be a big thing for us. So I think in five years, Karibu will be a big organisation and the pride of Africa. They even have their own tartan: It will come out soon. Its a mix of traditions,
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ce League on the ropes

part, some within the EDL have argued for a more political strategy, with tie-ins with groups like UKIP [Independence Party], the BNP and the English Democrats. But with the seeming certain death of the British National Party, no coherent political policies or ideas are coming out of the EDLs Luton-based leadership. Aside from their ongoing misunderstanding, misinterpretation and often extreme hatred of Islam, banning Islam as the group now purports to want does not address wider problems in society no matter how the EDL heap a nations supposed woes on just one party of society. In 2011 the groups year ended with a sparsely attended national demonstration in Birmingham. And the growth of new social movements, particularly the Occupy movement, further highlights a shift in the publics concerns. The EDL are finding it difficult to gain access to town centres and town squares that are already under occupation by a non-violent movement and there has been a noticeable change in peoples attitudes about the politics of the EDL. Splits in the EDL are apparent. Local autonomy has seen some of its members move towards hardline neo-Nazi groups like the National Front. As a political party, neither the EDL nor its leadership has a future. EDL leader Stephen Yaxley-Lennon appears less and less frequently in public and when he does he is well guarded against attacks from both opponents and rivals. He appears to have little desire left to continue putting himself in the firing line, despite his charmed life. But week in week out, large numbers of their 1,000 or so members around the country continue to step up violent attacks and end up in court for their actions. What exasperated direction they decide to take for themselves is a cause for concern.
Ruth Smeeth works for Searchlight Educational Trust ... and anti-EDL protest Photo: Hope Not Hate
on the menu
traditional dress using African tartan. It came from the sewing class, which is another of Karibus activities. These activities range from IT classes to drop-in sessions, where we invite different agencies to talk about services, like how to behave with your children: back home you might give your child a smack but here, we tell the ladies, if you do this you could find yourself in jail. In addition, We want to give them political skills. Back home, ladies are often behind men but here you can be a candidate somewhere, you can fulfil your political dreams. These are big but realistic ambitions given the progress made since Karibu was formed by a handful of women in 2004 to help asylum-seekers struggling to make a life in Scotland, despite language and other barriers, and little knowledge of Glasgow. Now its a registered charity and social enterprise. Some people have the idea that we are taking jobs from them, or that we are here to take benefits, that we dont want to work, explains Atta. We want to show that we are not here to take money, so we are promoting our social enterprise. We want to contribute to the society in which we are living. And those dishes? Poisson brais is ovengrilled fish, alloco is fried plantain, ndoll is a dish from Cameroon with green leaves, and Jollof from Senegal is fried rice with vegetables.
Hope Projects: Angela, Rudo, Lydia, Rose, Linda, Simon & Mike Photo: The Hope Projects
U-Knitty in diversity
HOPE VOLUNTEERS
ow can you resist buying a hat or scarf made with love by dedicated women? The women from all over the world in the Knitting Project (Kuwadzana U-Knitty) hope that you cant, because knitting has united them in a common endeavour. One of their first commissions was to make knitted breasts that midwives used when working with new mothers. One woman asked if we could sew too, says Sarah Malka, of Hope
Projects, which helped set up the group. Now we make curtains for warmer houses, dresses and pillows. Hope supports destitute people seeking sanctuary across the West Midlands, and is one of a few organisations in the country offering short-term accommodation for destitute and homeless asylumseekers. As well as uniting knitters, it has brought together gardeners who have dug plots with donated seeds, plants and materials. To enable us to be sustainable and useful, we make or grow enough
for ourselves and destitute friends attending the groups, and have produce to sell, says Malka. Kuwadzana U-Knitty knitwear has been sold at Amnesty International events and at church halls and other local events and can now be bought on eBay. As one member explained, It is good because it helps us meet people. You can make new friends, and not stay at home alone and think too much about bad things. Or in the words of another knitting group member: It helps us not to go mad.
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Jonny Wilkinson training with England at Twickenham Stadium. Photo: Paddy-K
Hitz helps kick out the old rugby clichs

Rugby union has not been blighted by racism, says Gavin Mortimer: Supporters dont care where a player is from as long as he does his bit for the team
t was one of Britains most illustrious writers, George Orwell, who once said that a bomb planted at Twickenham rugby stadium on an international day would end fascism in England for a generation. Orwell made his remark in the 1930s, a decade when Peter Howard captained the England rugby team. As well as leading his country on the rugby field Howard was also in charge of the Biff Boys, the defence squad recruited by Oswald Mosley to counter violent demonstrations against his politics. And what were Mosleys politics? He was a fascist. Rugby union in England has always
had a reputation for being a little right of centre, ever since it replaced football in public schools as the sport of choice in the years after the First World War. Yet while its true that the average rugby supporter is unlikely to be a left-leaning liberal who believes in free love, the sport has never been blighted by racism the way that football has in this country. Some of Englands finest (and bestloved) players in the last 30 years have been of immigrant stock. From the Nigerian-born Victor Ubogu and Steve Ojomoh to Rory and Tony Underwood, whose mother was Malaysian, to Lorenzo Bruno Nero Dallaglio, better known as Lawrence Dallaglio, the son
of an Italian restaurateur, and one of the key figures in the England side that won the 2003 World Cup. In the 17 years that Ive been writing about rugby union Ive never witnessed any racist incidents either on or off the field. No barracking, no bullying and certainly no bananas. Rugby supporters dont care where a player is from, or what the colour of his skin is, just as long as he does his bit for his team. And thats the message inherent in the Hitz rugby initiative launched two years ago in inner city London by the Metropolitan Police and the Rugby Football Union. The aim of Hitz is to introduce rugby to young people who might otherwise never have the chance to try out the sport. Its also about building self-belief and perhaps unearthing one or two future stars of the game. One of those involved in the scheme is Richard Hill, a World Cup winner
with England in 2003. Rugby is an inclusive game, commented Hill. What this project shows is that the core values of rugby, such as respect, teamwork and sportsmanship can make a difference, not only to develop the rugby skills of participants, but also be part of helping them fulfil their potential as individuals. England were awful at last years World Cup but theres since been a clear-out of coaches and players, and the new generation reflects the countrys diversity. Among the players who could feature in the 2015 World Cup are the Samoanborn Manu Tuilagi, Delon Armitage from Trinidad, the towering Tongan Billy Vunipola, Marland Yarde from St Lucia and Matt Kvesic, whose heritage is Croatian. The old clich about rugby being a game for all shapes and sizes needs updating. Now its also a game for all shades and surnames.
35
A plastic hurdle for the British-AmericanNigerian Olympic hopeful

Anna Kessel tries to keep up with a talented athlete who ran into unwelcome criticisms despite winning a silver European championship medal for Britain.
hen Tiffany Porter stepped off the track after winning her first medal for Great Britain last year 100m silver at the European Indoor Championships in Paris the hurdler was greeted with cynicism by the media. Porter who hails from the United States, born to a British mother and a Nigerian father, was immediately asked: Do you feel British now? The University of Michigan pharmacology student could not have been made to feel less welcome in her newly adopted home. Nevertheless, she politely smiled and said: Ive always felt I was British, American and Nigerian. Im all three. Identifying with more than one cultural influence is a notion that many migrant families will relate to, but in parts of the national press Porters assertion was accompanied by a strong dose of scepticism. Many commented on her foreign accent, and questioned her motives for switching allegiance to Team GB. All through 2011 Porter, nee Ofili, continued to excel, breaking Angie Thorps 15-year-old British record of 12.80 seconds with a run of 12.77 seconds to lift her to fourth in the world rankings, and just missing out on a medal at the World Championships where she lowered the national record to 12.56 seconds. Instead of celebrating Porters success Britains first female worldclass sprint hurdler in over a decade
Porter was pilloried. Thorp contacted a national newspaper to express her devastation at the news that a foreigner had taken her record. The subject sparked a wave of headlines about plastic Brits as Britains head coach, Dutchman Charles van Commenee, continued to recruit athletes from overseas, including long jumper Shara Proctor from the British overseas territory of Anguilla to Cuban-born triple jumper Yamile Aldama, who has been a UK resident for 10 years. With other Olympic sports, such as wrestling, following suit ahead of the 2012 Olympics, politicians stepped in to have their say. Home Secretary Theresa May promised to scrutinise all citizen applications from sports governing bodies, while sports minister Hugh Robertson voiced his concern over fast-tracking athletes to gain a British passport in time for the London Games. Amid the furore, Porter was forced to defend herself. When I was younger I felt cool for having a British and an American passport, she said. I didnt think it was going to be such a big fuss, my transition over here. I just hope the British media as well as the British public can accept me as a loyal teammate, athlete and citizen. People think I switched allegiance because it would be easier to make the team, or Im doing it for money. Anybody who knows me knows that [those reasons] are as far from the truth as possible. Ive always had dual citizenship since birth. Ive always been proud of my heritage. My mom has always told me about my British-AmericanNigerian background. Its who I am. Porter will probably be a genuine medal contender in the London Olympics. Lets hope there will be no more questions over her suitability as a British athlete.
Tiffany Porter: Pilloried. Photo: Mark Dadswell/Getty Images
Sport
Farah hopes to raise that Fly Mo Union Jack again
Farah wins gold, 5000m final, IAAF World Championships, South Korea, 2011. Photo: Bill Frakes /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
James Smith looks at one of Britains main hopes for gold in the London Olympics, Somalia-born runner Mo Farah
or Mo Farah, the countdown to the London Olympics began the moment he won the 5,000 metres at last years World Championships in South Korea. Holding aloft a Union Jack with the words Fly Mo on it as he beamed his pearly white smile, the Londoner was already looking ahead to summer 2012. Last May, Farah moved himself and his family to Oregon in the US to work with coach Alberto Salazar, who focuses on the minute details that can give athletes those medal-winning split seconds of extra pace. He and Farah will pick apart his gold and silver runs in the 5,000m and 10,000m to see where improvements can be made. Farah is careful to avoid overconfidence. You never know what can happen at London 2012 in terms of trying to do the double, he said. You saw what happened in the 10km. Its not about whos the favourite or anything else, anyone can come from anywhere, he told a London paper. You just have to keep training and covering every angle, stay injury-free and keep doing what Im doing. I am looking forward to it as an athlete. To have an Olympics right on your
doorstep is going to be amazing. Last October Farah was named athlete of the year for the second successive year, and the third time overall, by the British Athletics Writers Association. It came after an unforgettable year for the Somaliaborn athlete in which he won six golds. (see box) Farah is one of the highest profile Somalis in the UK, which is home to the largest Somali community in Europe, with an estimated 108,000 Somali-born immigrants. The earliest arrivals were 19th century seamen and merchants. A second small group came with the Navy in the Second World War, and stayed in search of employment. Civil war in Somalia 1980s and 1990s triggered a large number of Somali immigrants, who make up the majority of the UKs current Somali population. Perhaps surprisingly, Farah believes the attitude towards migration in the UK has improved in the past five years, which is great, although it would be even better if people realised that lots of immigrants have something to offer the UK and not all should be stereotyped. Between 1985 and 2006, Somalia figured among the top ten largest
Farahs Golden 2011

19 Feb: European indoor 5,000m in new British record 13:10.60 5 March: European indoor 3,000m 20 March: New York half-marathon 3 June: Diamond League 10,000m in new British record 26:46.57 22 July: Diamond League 5,000m in new British record 12:53.11 28 August: World 10,000m silver 4 September: World 5,000m gold
countries of origin of people seeking asylum in the UK. Initially, most were granted refugee status: those arriving later, in the 1990s, usually obtained only temporary status. His father was born in England and grew up in London. His parents met when his father was on holiday in Somalia. Mo Farah arrived here aged eight, speaking hardly any English. His earliest UK memories were of a playground with swings and slides. Id never seen that in Somalia, he says, so was amazed by it and had such a fun time - I never wanted to leave the playground! He feels a strong connection to his country of origin. I have some relatives living there even now and
I feel that its my responsibility to help those less fortunate than me in Somalia. The situation in East Africa at the moment, particularly Somalia, is the worst its been for decades and I want to do something about it. So he has established the Mo Farah Foundation the aim of which is to raise awareness about the continuing food shortages and famine and to raise money to help. Farah was talent-spotted by a PE teacher, Alan Watkinson, who later said: He was struggling academically and suffering from the language barrier. He needed focus and I sort of took him under my wing. His passion was football but it was his turn of speed on the pitch that showed his real talent. His ambitions consisted of playing on the right wing for Arsenal. In 1996, aged 13, Farah entered the English schools cross-country championship and finished ninth. The following year he won the first of five English school titles. What I like the most about the UK is the vast opportunities available for kids to do so many different sports, he told Migrant Voice. I had the option to take up whatever sport I wanted in school and at local clubs. Not every country has those opportunities.
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Issue 1, 2012

presenting alternative positions on migration

WAnted: funder 18 for UK ellis Island migration museum

Brums Balti bonanza HP sauce, Typhoo, Cadburys now another landmark

Europes royal migrants Freshening up the bloodline

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Welcome to Migrant Voice

Concern as security companies take over asylum housing

MusuEM BiD, from page 1

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Where the streets are paved with celebs

Kylie Minogue: House in Chelsea Photo: Paul Robinson

Madonna: Several properties Photo: Adam Sammler

Sara DaviDSoN, 50 itS a claSS iSSue.

Brits abroad: the other of the immigration deb

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EmmA SyLvEStEr, 28: I cAn onLy SEE thE movE AS A poSItIvE

Finch: Increase in Britons going to China.

The British diaspora

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How migrants can help strengthen Britains economic backbone

Brighter Futures member: promoting excellence. Photo: Trupti Patel

Nominate a social worker

Migration cap may be bad for business

Anjali Pathak: On the brink of a food revolution

Hussein Chalayan dresses, Design Museum, London Photo: Kaupelei

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Integration under threat

Exile: Hands on or hand out? Photo: Natalie Bennett

The homelandless: limbo between two

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Victor Fraga: A sense of longing

KatJa, 30, office worKer

MohaMed, 72, retired council eMployee

liz, 72, retired nurse, seven children

Justine, 22, student

carMen, 42, uneMployed, two children

ali, 27, shopKeeper

Mary, 25, MuseuM intern

alMa, 25, custoMer service representative

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louiSe Sweet | Arrival confusion

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Britains ghost people

Be a STAR, help a refugee

Success story at risk

Nishit Morsawala examines concern over a tightening up of student visas

University: Ease restrictions government urged.

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Balti: Adapted to Western tastes

Joe, 16, STUDeNT

KUiDo ANgeleS, 31, cooK

PARiD, 78, ex-meRchANT NAvy

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Brum born and bred

Shops in the Triangle: It caters for everyone. Photos: Ruchita Daswani

Trying an authentic balti in an authentic restaurant is a must on every visitors list

Causher, 57, playboy

James, 28, hospitality business

Photo: Migrant Voice

Homes and migrants: the facts

Who gets priority?

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