The Boaz Trust is a Christian charity (Reg No. 1110344) set up in June 2004 to meet the needs of asylum seekers suffering destitution and hardship in the Greater Manchester area.

What's the problem?

Since 1999 the government has introduced 4 new asylum acts. They have not only made it much harder for asylum seekers to enter the country, but also made thousands of asylum seekers already here destitute. Most of these are people whose asylum claims have been refused, but who cannot be safely returned to their country of origin.

With no benefits, housing or right to work, they have no choice but to beg, borrow or steal - or to break the law by working illegally. The Red Cross estimates that there are 33,600 nationwide, though that may be an underestimate. In Greater Manchester alone there are well over 1,000. They rely on charity handouts and support from friends (themselves often asylum seekers living on the poverty line). A number, suffering from severe depression, have attempted suicide - some successfully.

The most recent asylum bill, passed in 2004, has made the situation worse. Cuts in legal aid are causing more wrong decisions and forcing solicitors to give up asylum work altogether. By making it much harder to take a case to appeal or a tribunal, less wrong decisions are being put right. An underclass of people with no human rights is being created. Even families with children are now being made destitute.

What can be done?

At Boaz we believe there are 3 keys to unlock the situation: Education, Care and Prayer

Education is not just about teaching facts. It is about winning the argument. The general public must see that tabloid scare stories about asylum are at best distortions of the truth, and at worst, downright lies. The politicians must understand that asylum seekers bring far more in to our country than they take out. And Christians must understand the depth of God's love for the foreigner and the oppressed.

Would you like someone to come and speak to a group about what is happening?

Care is not just about sympathy and a packet of rice. It involves commitment, sacrifice and a willingness to support, stand with and speak for those who have no means of helping themselves. Sometimes it will mean challenging the laws (and their makers) that are causing the destitution. It means, as Jesus said, treating others the way we would like to be treated.

Would you like to be involved in caring for those in need?

Prayer is not just a few thoughts or words on a Sunday. It is a hotline to the One who has the power to lift up and pull down governments, to soften hearts, to change minds. Without it, all the campaigning in the world will not bring about justice and righteousness.

Would you become a prayer partner and commit to interceding for those who have been marginalised and disenfranchised?

The aims of the boaztrust

1. To empower the Christian Church to offer practical, emotional and spiritual support to asylum seekers and refugees facing destitution and hardship.

2. To bring about an end to destitution amongst asylum seekers in the United Kingdom by

:: resourcing accommodation and other essentials for life
:: promoting justice for asylum seekers and refugees
:: campaigning for changes in asylum legislation

>> click here to discover more about the people who make Boaz work.

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