Latest News

June '06
Refugee Week 2006, click
here for photos

Dec '05:
Money raised for Asylum Justice in Newport click here

Aug '05:
New funds for education and allotment projects


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Welcome to Newport Refugees



 

Dancing on the Beach

(Written on the occasion of the Newport Asylum seekers outing to Porthcawl

16th August 2006, organised and funded by the Catholic Newport Deanery Justice and Peace Group)

1.

Mind crashes;

automatically deletes

 
all it cant process;
consigns to recycling,
patiently
waiting for recovery-
in another time....perhaps........
Under duress
it is forced centre screen,
bold and blood red,
into the glare
of home office inquisition
for a decision
of a man in suit.
So to avoid
the transition,
transportation,
deportation
into experience of
sights,
sounds
too unthinkable to articulate,
words buffer in the brain.
Imagination dies.
Feebly
we present our case.
In unfamiliar language
we give our reasons why
we seek permission
to stay,
leave to remain,
not to go back.
And while we wait
We dance on the beach
2

We saw our Mothers shot.
after they’d witnessed
the gang rape by soldiers
of daughters who fled with their children
to a place
of healing
of leaving
 just the scars
 the bruises;
and in time,
learning to hope ........
to forget.....
perhaps.....
A dream too much?
Of the decision
 for permission
to stay in this place.?
So we wait with our nightmares.
Wait for the letter,
the call from the man in the suit,
the knock on the door
and while we wait we play
with
the children on the beach.
3
Five years since,
we escaped
from the bullet and bomb;
five years since
 we came
with our hope
to see our children grow.
One’s starting school,
another plays football,
he shows promise they say.
So we hope and we wait
for the letter, the knock on the door,
for the decision from the man in the suit
to give permission
to stay,
to settle
to live
to work.
to hope........
Today it arrived from the man in the suit.
‘Go back and return
the guns are now silent.
Go back to the ruins of the schools and the homes.
There’s no-one alive,
there’s no one to kill
so you’ll be alright.’
And I’ll be alright ‘ says the man in the suit,
for my figures will tally,
my targets be met.
I’ll have sent back my quota
And that’ll be that’
The tide of hope turns
In the shallows
the children paddle
play ball
build sandcastles.
Curled up on a rug,
Mother sleeps on the beach.

Mary Anstey

 

 

 

 

December '06 - raising money to support 'Asylum Justice'

Asylum Justice is a movement to give asylum seekers the access to justice and basic legal support that they deserve. A unique project is starting in Wales and the people of Newport are helping this Christmas to bring the benefits to their city. This Christmas, from 16th to 23rd December, NDRSG supporters will be wrapping books for charity at Waterstones in Commercial Street.  Click here for more.

 

Newport Refugees

> June '06 - Refugee Week After event party

Watch this space for a full report to follow later.
In the meantime you can view a photo album of the after event party at 'Mojo's', Newport's premier exclusive night

spot in Market Street. 
To see photographs of the after-event party Click here

 

 

 



> Summer '05: New funds for community education and allotment projects

Sign Up NowThe group has recently been given a £650 grant by NIACE Dysgu Cymru to run a short community education as part of the Sign Up Now campaign. This grant will allow us Allotment Projectto create a newsletter about English courses for asylum seekers and refugees in Newport and also run some taster sessions. Please click here for more.

We have also been given a £400 grant by the Wales Churches Fund to purchase a secure shed for our allotment and additional tools. Please click here for more.

 

 



 

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