CARA - CHRISTADELPHIAN AID FOR REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS (UK)

Gordon Dawes (Chair)

Over the last six years, Britain has seen a noticeable rise in inward migration of people - adults, unaccompanied children, and families - seeking sanctuary here. They come partly from countries torn apart by war (such as Syria and Ukraine). Still, a significant proportion are from Iran, where many suffer under the restrictions of the Islamic regime. All leave behind their former lives and broader family in a flight to refuge.

In September 2022, CARA, a new Christadelphian charity (Not For Profit) launched in the UK. It is now working with individual ecclesias and several other Christadelphian charities - Christadelphian ALS (supporting witness and teaching), Christadelphian Benevolent Fund (welfare for baptised members), and Christadelphian Outreach Group (outreach programmes) together to support the wonderful witness opportunity arising from the enthusiasm of these people seeking asylum. 

The UK attracts, as it is seen as a tolerant country where religious freedom is still respected. Some arrive with a good standard of English. Others speak a little, learned from the internet or global media. A proportion of this migration has come to the Christadelphians, in particular, because our teaching of Christ as “the Son of God” rather than “God the Son” accords more instinctively with their cultural heritage in the Islamic faith. 

UK ecclesias have received almost 12,000 Iranian contacts. Over 1,900 have been baptised, following our usual teaching and preparation for interview over months. These new brothers and sisters now represent a significant proportion, possibly 15%, of our UK ecclesial community. They bring youth, skills, new energy, and intense gratitude. More than 100 of our roughly 250 ecclesias are now blessed with brothers and sisters from an Iranian heritage. Some of our city ecclesias have received large numbers – over 100 in at least five locations. Of course, this brings challenges – the need to worship and witness in two or more languages, to explain our faith in clear terms, to maintain support for existing members and families, and to accept change in the feel of each ecclesia as we grow together in our Lord. 

Those coming to us may also be in significant personal and spiritual need – some arrive with little or nothing, physically spent and traumatised by the fear, exploitation, and abuse on their journey. UK government assistance provides basic accommodation and a small allowance for food and clothing. They are not permitted to work until given Leave to Remain. This process can take 18-24 months to achieve and is granted only after a formal interview (or several) with government officials. They can be in limbo for a very long time, and at risk of temptations to work illegally. If they succeed in proving their case for asylum, they face new challenges, looking for work and very limited – and expensive - rental housing, often in areas remote from their first ecclesia, and away from where work might be found. Work is often in the service sector, which may make attending our services difficult. Their continuing struggles to access our language, housing, medical services, education, and appropriate work are significant, and consistent and sensitive support is often required. 

So the need for increased basic support here is great, and still growing. Our ecclesias, with CBF, continue to support members – now CARA is in place to support ecclesias that, unsurprisingly, are running very short of their own resources to help both baptised and unbaptised but committed visitors. 

Warmer clothes for the British winter, waterproofs, better footwear, toiletries, a rucksack, necessary equipment for safe cycling, help with food and heating costs and transport costs to English lessons are typical examples of assistance, together with help to integrate into the UK, find accommodation, understand the tax and benefits system, and how to find a job. These challenges are potentially long term, particularly in the present economic climate.

CARA hopes to collate a digital library of existing resources to assist the support of refugees, and a network of skills and experience with asylum seekers to help ecclesias continue to respond positively.

CARA has already been blessed with financial support from ecclesias and generous individuals, and several of our community’s charitable funds, including the Williamsburg Christadelphian Foundation in the USA, for which we give profound thanks. We are very grateful to our Heavenly Father for this early generosity, which has enabled us already to make our first funding donations to ecclesias needing help.

The opportunities are amazing, the work of both teaching and support heavy, yet the joy considerable. These opportunities, the work and the need are still very much with us as more arrive seeking asylum, and more seek us out. 

If you would like to contribute to this work, you can forward your donation to the WCF, which has kindly offered to coordinate a single efficient transfer to CARA UK. And – please – add your prayers for this work supporting all seekers of sanctuary.