Support for Asylum Seekers
CRM is actively working with Asylum Seekers in Higher Blackley, and CRM is well known and valued for our lived experience in issues affecting Black African people and is a key part of the local community, which includes Ugandans, Nigerians, Kenyans, Zimbabweans, Congolese and many more.
Our Impact
We are meeting a gap and understanding the daily challenges that racialised communities such as Black African asylum seekers and refugees face. We're proud to offer a range of support networks through our projects and recognise that marginalized Black African individuals often face:
- •Language barriers
- •Poor health
- •Isolation
- •Poverty
- •Lack of opportunities
- •Systemic issues
Community Support
We proactively reach and engage with people to address the inequity and racial injustice they experience by actively consulting with the community we serve. Asylum seekers and refugees are the most marginalised in society and these conversations have helped us to develop gaps in service provision and various projects.
Men's Support Group
To date, a total of 14 Black African men have been assisted to access appropriate cultural, practical and emotional support. As a direct result of this group, they now feel comfortable talking about taboo issues such as mental health and domestic violence (with some asylum-seeking men being the victims). Their lived experience is valued, they feel empowered and support others in their peer group.
Youth Support
We listen to parents and young people, especially those with dual heritage in our community and act to find solutions to address the issues that they are experiencing.
No More Knives Tour
Knife crime and its devastating impact on lives is a recurring issue. As a result, CRM No More Knives Tour goes into high schools to show young people there is another way. We partner with local churches combining music with powerful stories and teaching.
Our Approach
Advocacy
We work to influence policies and challenge systemic inequalities by engaging with policymakers, submitting evidence-based reports, and supporting legal challenges against discriminatory practices. For example, Our charity has actively advocated to Manchester Council on food poverty, ensuring that racial equality is at the heart of policy decisions.
Partnerships
We work closely with Manchester City Council, Manchester Social Services, Victory Outreach Substance Misuse Service, MACC and other faith, charitable and grassroots organisations.
Campaigns
We raise public awareness and mobilise support through storytelling, media engagement, and grassroots movements. Our social media campaigns challenge harmful narratives, while our community-led protests and petitions push for legislative change.
Impact Measurement
We capture impact by completing personalised support plans with individuals, activity attendance sheets and monitoring and evaluation forms to capture data, outcomes and distance travelled for all our activities and projects.
We use our deep understanding of the barriers our community faces to drive meaningful action. Our approach is proactive, evidence-based, and community-led, ensuring that the change we strive for is impactful and enduring. We do not just respond to racial injustice—we actively work to eradicate it.