To protect the health and safety of our communities and friends we have sadly decided to postpone/suspend all our upcoming events, training, media appearances and face-to-face support.

At this time of the continued global Coronavirus pandemic, we know that our most vulnerable those with migrant status, those suffering under the hostile environment, those with no recourse to public funds – will be disproportionately affected by any lock down. It is the most vulnerable that will be affected by the closing of services, deepening economic hardship, and the seeping of border regimes into our GP practices. With many of our communities unemployed, or in low-paid and insecure work, and many living in shared housing, self isolation simply isn’t an option. 

We will continue to work to protect ourselves and our communities. We are in the process of moving ourselves online with our Collective Conversations and our Unlearning Racism course, with more information to follow. Notwithstanding the ways that the digital world excludes many of our members, we will also endeavour to continue liaising with our core membership digitally or by phone to ensure their needs are brought to the attention of policy makers and funders.

We extend our solidarity to the frontline medical and care workers who, as a result of deliberate underfunding, are massively under resourced, underpaid and over stretched. We also offer solidarity to any migrant and especially migrant medical staff who are still being asked to pay a fee to use the NHS that they serve. We send love to the cleaners who are being treated so badly, expected to work without even the most basic safety provisions, by contracted cleaning companies. This crisis has shown, if we did not already know, that for profiteering companies and our government alike, too many of our lives are seen to be entirely expendable. . 

We send love to our siblings in indefinite detention, we have not forgotten you and will continue to put your case forward at every opportunity. Waiting for news of your release. 

Peace to the prisoners in overcrowded, underfunded prisons, whilst the owners can self isolate in luxury. To those on misdemeanour charges that should by now, have been released . 

To those without a roof and food, to the women of colour who are always disproportionately affected by testing times, to the dis/abled people whose needs are too often ignored, we send love and solidarity.

Article by Desiree Reynolds @desreereynolds