Boaz Trust

Stories of Destitution

Nigel Biggs — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:17:17 +0000

Check out this video featuring Sofia, a refused asylum seeker from Zimbabwe and Boaz client. Unfortunately, stories like Sofia’s are all too common. Estimates suggest there are over 2000 destitute asylum seekers living in Manchester alone.

http://www.vimeo.com/7520311

Run for destitute asylum seekers

Nigel Biggs — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:16:08 +0000

Many asylum seekers run hundreds of miles to reach a port and flee persecution in their home countries. They come to the UK seeking sanctuary from the past, but their struggles do not end there, as many find themselves left destitute with no means of survival.

We won’t ask you to run hundreds of miles, but could you run 10km to raise vital funds for the work of the Boaz Trust? Help us to provide accommodation, food and support to the most marginalised people in our society.

If you are interested in running the Great Manchester 10k run on 16th May 2010 on behalf of the Boaz Trust, please do get in touch. Drop us an email on office@boaztrust.org.uk or call us on 0161 202 1056. We would love your support.

Campaigning opportunity

Nigel Biggs — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:59:37 +0000

Are you free on 4th November? Why not join Amnesty’s lobby of parliament calling for protection for all women in abusive relationships, regardless of their immigration status.

There is a free coach going down from Manchester.

Email norecourse@amnesty.org.uk or check out their website for more details.

Wanted – night shelter volunteers

Nigel Biggs — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:56:10 +0000

We were delighted to receive funding from the Cross Pollinate Foundation and a generous individual donor for our winter night shelter! The shelter is due to begin on 1st November and will rotate around seven local churches in Manchester, who will each provide 10 bed spaces for one night a week, along with two meals and emotional support. Last year, 94 men from countries such as Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iran and Zimbabwe benefited from this service over five and a half months.

We are currently in need of volunteers for the night shelter. Roles include driving asylum seekers to the venue from a central meeting point, cooking and serving meals, providing friendship and emotional support, and supervising the shelter overnight. Training will be provided. If you would like get involved, please email office@boaztrust.org.uk or call 0161 202 1056.

We are also still in need of another venue. If your church is in central Manchester and you could offer the building and possibly a team of volunteers for one night a week over the winter, please do get in touch.

Boaz Christmas Collection!

Nigel Biggs — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:54:32 +0000

The Boaz craft groups have been hard at work over the last few weeks producing fabulous screen prints and collages to feature on this year’s Christmas Cards. These eye-catching, original designs are well worth a look, and at only £5 for a pack of 10 cards, they are even cheaper than last year! Please do download a catalogue or drop us an email and we will post one out to you.

Our Christmas Collection also features a selection of alternative gifts which will benefit destitute asylum seekers in Manchester this Christmas. I’m sure you will find the perfect gift for that ethically minded friend, or that family member who seems to have everything! Please do check them out.

Even if you can’t buy alternative gifts for ALL your friends and family, why not shop through www.easyfundraising.org.uk and raise money for Boaz whilst you shop online, at NO COST to yourself. Just sign up and select us as your charity (under ‘T’ for ‘The Boaz Trust’), then use the links from the site and well-known retailers will donate a proportion of your sale. For example, buy from Amazon and we receive a 2.5% donation, or buy from M&S and we receive 5%. There is an incredibly wide range of stores so please do make use of this fantastic opportunity.

You can also raise money just by searching the net with www.easysearch.org.uk.

Changing Lives

Nigel Biggs — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:50:34 +0000

One of our residents took some time this week to describe the difference the Boaz Trust has made in his life:

“I am very much glad and obliged to get a chance to pass the comment regarding the Boaz Trust. I am a destitute asylum seeker. I have no relatives and friends in the country. I was in a very critical situation after my case was refused. Boaz Trust extended their sweet hand towards me, otherwise I would have died. They have provided me with accommodation, food, English classes, sewing classes, arts and crafts, and bus fares to attend the classes. All the staff of Boaz Trust have a dedicated life. I should pray and request to the public and different agency to extend their sweet hand towards the Boaz Trust and donate money. That would be very good for them. The can help other asylum people like me. Thank you very much for helping. Yours faithfully, Sankar.”

AGM

Nigel Biggs — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:49:21 +0000

Our AGM will be held on Monday 30th November, 7.30pm. Venue T.B.C. All Boaz friends, clients and supporters are welcome.

Friends of Boaz

Nigel Biggs — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:00:21 +0000

Why not become a Friend of Boaz by giving a regular financial gift each month? We really appreciate regular giving, as it helps us to plan our work and makes it more sustainable. Even just a couple of pounds each month can make a real difference.

Download a form here, fill it in, and return it to us to become a Friend of Boaz.

Thank you!

Boaz 5th Birthday Celebration and Fundraising Dinner!

Nigel Biggs — Fri, 22 May 2009 10:25:30 +0000

You are warmly invited to our 5th Birthday Celebration and Fundraising Dinner!

Saturday 27th June, 7.30pm

Kingsburn Hall, 814 Burnage Lane, Manchester, M19 1RS

Tickets cost £15 which includes a three course Ethiopian meal, live entertainment and a celebration of the work of the Boaz Trust over the last five years. We will also be having an auction of theatre tickets, CDs, books and other much sort after items.

Our band for the evening will be entertaining us with some Congolese Rumba and will include Maron, our Nightshelter Coordinator, and Lorenzo, an asylum seeker from Zimbabwe who used the nightshelter over the winter.

We would love for you to join us on this special occasion. To book your tickets please call 0161 202 1056 or email office@boaztrust.org.uk

Please do invite your friends, family and church.

Could you fund a food parcel for a destitute asylum seeker?

Nigel Biggs — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:02:03 +0000

The St Brides Destitution Project, where we work with the local church and the Red Cross, is facing the effects of the credit crunch. The number of clients is rising, the cost of a basic food parcel is also going up (now at around £8, per person per week), and they simply don’t have the resources to deal with this.

Over the coming months, it has been decided that clients who have been receiving food parcels for a longer period of time will no longer be eligible for a food parcel. This affects virtually all of our houses. Therefore we are now having to look at how we can possibly provide a basic food parcel for over 30 of our clients, so that they have something to eat each week. Remember- this is their only source of support.

Could you commit to a regular weekly donation of £8 to provide an essential food parcel for a destitute asylum seeker? Perhaps you could get together with your family, friends or church group to “sponsor” a food parcel for one or more of our clients. If so, please click here to download a standing order form. We really appreciate your support.

If you are able to display leaflets about our food parcel appeal at your church or workplace, you can download a copy here.