http://www.star-network.org.uk/index.php/news/index/ en Copyright 2012 2012-01-25T10:34:25+00:00 http://www.star-network.org.uk/index.php/news/new_regional_asylum_project_now_recruiting/ http://www.star-network.org.uk/index.php/news/new_regional_asylum_project_now_recruiting/#When:11:58:55Z Do you want to inform and change attitudes about asylum seekers and refugees, and campaign for positive change to the asylum system? This could be the job for you! A New Regional Asylum Project is recruiting three Regional Activism Co-ordinators to be based in Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds/Sheffield. The Project The New Regional Asylum Project is an exciting new project which will use regional organising to achieve a louder, better coordinated voice for asylum seekers. It has a dual focus – to inform and change attitudes about asylum seekers and refugees, and to campaign for positive change to the asylum system. It will operate in partnership with Still Human Still Here and will seek to support existing campaigns. STAR will be acting in the role of National Co-ordinator. The project aims to enhance grass roots and national campaigns, increase the involvement of those with direct experience of asylum, and build a movement in support of change. Funding is confirmed for 12 months, and the project is anticipated to continue for at least a further two years. The Posts Hours: 3 days per week (each post) Salary: £25,000 per annum pro rata Closing date: 10 February 2012, midnight. The posts will involve working in partnership with existing organisations to develop, refine and implement strategies for promoting change in the region. Applicants should have experience of working with asylum seekers and refugees, skills in building networks and partnerships, campaigning expertise, and an openness and commitment to the project being directed by the priorities of community organisations and local organisations working with asylum seekers. To Apply An application pack and more information can be downloaded here. 2012-01-19T11:58:55+00:00 http://www.star-network.org.uk/index.php/news/star_student_profile_kirsti_aventurin_york_star/ http://www.star-network.org.uk/index.php/news/star_student_profile_kirsti_aventurin_york_star/#When:15:50:54Z It doesn’t take much to get a new STAR group off the ground. All you need are a few like-minded students and a passion for refugee rights! Kirsti Aventurin from York STAR tells us about the motivation behind setting up their new group in 2011 and her best moments so far. When did York STAR start-up and what was the inspiration behind it? York STAR was ratified by the Students’ Union on the 21st of June 2011. However, York STAR really only became real in October 2011, at the start of term. To be honest, back in June we knew very little about the cause in York. The inspiration behind setting up the group was thus first, to discover what the situation was like in the place where we were studying, and second, to discover what we as students could do. STAR is answering all of these questions! How many members do you currently have in your group? Currently we have 15 members, that is, members who have paid the membership fee. We are looking forward to welcoming more and more students to come on board with us! In the meantime, we’re also enjoying our small group as it gives us time to lay a solid foundation for York STAR. For you personally, what has been the highlight of being involved with STAR so far? I think that the favourite moment for all of us has been volunteering with Refugee Action York. That’s when we started building friendships while serving the people at the drop-in centre. Can you tell us a bit about this volunteering project, e.g. how it started and what you do? York STAR students volunteer with Refugee Acton York every Sunday during term time. Activities include: teaching English, taking care of children under 5 years old, organizing activities with children over 5 years old, helping in the kitchen and preparing the food for the shared meal. I believe that all of those activities offer great opportunities for all of us to learn about each other and build relationships! As Christmas approaches, York STAR students have volunteered to buy presents for the children at the drop-in centre (see picture above). A homework support group has also just been created. This will be a great way of encouraging children who may face difficulties at school. Can you tell us about one of your favourite moments volunteering? One of my favourite moments at Refugee Action York has been learning a Turkish dance with three girls from Turkey! It’s such a welcoming and friendly dance. Do you have any plans for next term yet? Right now we are in the process of organising a panel discussion at our University for January. I have to say that during York STAR’s first term we have primarily chosen to focus on raising awareness and volunteering in the community and we haven’t been involved with any STAR campaigns yet. This is something that we will not forget to do as we are aware of the fact that campaigning is one of STAR’s aims. What would you say to encourage other students to get involved with STAR? We are young, we have the time and energy to give so let us realise how much we can do to help refugees and asylum-seekers in our community! 2011-12-16T15:50:54+00:00 http://www.star-network.org.uk/index.php/news/get_fun-draising_with_the_new_star_guide/ http://www.star-network.org.uk/index.php/news/get_fun-draising_with_the_new_star_guide/#When:11:40:34Z Your favourite charity STAR needs money to keep going. Come on STARs – get your fundraise on! The new STAR Fundraising Guide brings together top tips and new ideas from across the network that will help your STAR group to run fundraisers that are both fantastic and foolproof in 2012! Fundraising for STAR makes a massive difference to the lives of refugees by helping to ensure that we, as a network, can continue our amazing work. It is a great way to get involved in exciting challenges and events as well as creating a buzz around STAR campaigns on campus! The new Fundraising Guide includes tips on how to run successful events and ideas of what to do. This includes a comedy night, a treasure hunt and even a sponsored wax! It also has advice on different ways to promote your events to have maximum impact and lists some tips for collaboration with other student societies. Why fundraise for STAR? STAR is a major force in the refugee movement. In your thousands you make a huge difference to the lives of refugees in the UK each year by volunteering, campaigning and promoting positive images of refugees. The team at STAR national fundraise hard to help make this happen but we really need your help too! STAR needs over £200,000 a year to run the network and pay for all the things that make this happen, such as: work with policy makers, the media and other refugee organizations to change national policy for refugees produce the resources we send to you at freshers so that you can recruit more members run the STAR conference where you learn about refugee issues and share ideas for more great work (each place costs £100!) develop and update the STAR website train STAR members who volunteer with refugees run STAR campaigns Getting involved in fundraising can also be beneficial to your STAR group. It can boost your profile on campus, raise greater awareness of refugee issues and get STAR recognized by your Student Union as an important and active society! This can result in them giving you bigger budgets and greater support. Durham STAR, Warwick STAR and Cardiff STAR have even won awards from their SU in recognition of all their fabulous work on campus – well done you! How you can fundraise for STAR As well as ideas in the guide below, we have two national fundraisers coming up: Sporty STAR Challenges Take part in a challenge such as the Brighton Marathon or the Euro City Cycle! World Food Night In February STAR will be teaming up with Refugee Action and asking you to get together and cook delicious food from around the world for students at your university. Alternatively you could hold a STAR ‘Come Dine With Me’ to raise funds for STAR! At STAR conference 2011 you also came up with some fantastic new fundraising ideas. Why not try: A Citizenship Test Pub Quiz A Refugee Rhythms Music Night A Poetry Slam A comedy or open mike night A Pop up Charity Shop or Swap Shop on campus A stall selling snacks or glow-sticks at an SU club night If you would like to do a sponsored challenge for STAR, get some help organising an event or share a great idea then get in touch with the STAR team. Fundraising Guide 6.1 Why Fundraise? 6.1 Why Fundraise? 6.2 How to fundraise 6.2a Organising Events 6.2b Personal and group challenges 6.2c Collaborations and joint events 6.2d Advertising your event 6.3 Fundraising Ideas 6.3a Club or band night 6.3b Comedy night 6.3c Pub night 6.3d Stall sales and raffle 6.3e Treasure hunt 6.3f Sponsored anything 6.3g Other_ideas! 6.4 Checklist for Organizing an Event 2011-12-15T11:40:34+00:00 http://www.star-network.org.uk/index.php/news/star_national_conference_2011_100_student_activists_raise_their_voices/ http://www.star-network.org.uk/index.php/news/star_national_conference_2011_100_student_activists_raise_their_voices/#When:14:47:59Z On the weekend of the 19 and 20th of November 100 student activists from over 30 universities joined up with experts and advocates from the refugee movement to learn more about the challenges facing asylum seekers and refugees in the UK and raise their voices for refugee rights. Participants showed their creativity by coming together to perform an attention-grabbing Simple Act in support of the End Child Detention Now campaign on International Children’s Day. Christina from Manchester STAR tells all… “From the beginning of the National Student Conference I was immediately immersed. The brief introduction set the scene for what would be the most interesting and educational 11 hours I have had in a long time. This coming from a 3rd year student is no mean feat! Of course most of the details are so deeply locked in my subconscious by now that I have no access to them…But a lingering awareness of all the issues affecting refugees and asylum seekers in this country are with me always so that any unsuspecting unbeliever would be faced with a strategic onslaught of arguments as listed by Jonathan Ellis, Director of Advocacy at the Refugee Council, in his step by step guide to changing minds. In my opinion, the most special aspect of the conference was the attendance over the 2 days of an eclectic mix of experts, who were happy to offer their knowledge. It was awesome to be in the presence of UNHCR, Refugee Action and Still Human Still Here representatives as well as refugees and asylum seekers willing to share their stories so openly. I do try to keep up to date with news and reports from many of the organisations that were present but to have someone from their office come and talk was a precious experience. Of the many parts of the conference, I most enjoyed the workshops as in small groups everyone seemed more comfortable and open to asking questions and discussing topics of interest, if only to express shock and horror at the atrocities taking place. I learnt of the vulnerability of women in the asylum process and finally got a good grasp of the elusive Section 4! Its content may not be as elusive anymore but its criteria are just as incomprehensible. Next, I came to grips with detention in the UK. Although I had heard all about it, the information I acquired was invaluable. This was the beauty of the conference for many of us students: it gave us a more concrete and complete understanding of all the issues such as detention, destitution and the asylum process so that we now feel empowered to take action. I was surprised at the heated debate that emerged naturally in some of the sessions. In the workshop on detention we had one student defend detention centres as economically viable in preventing those considering absconding. Immediately, passionate retorts clarified how unnecessary detention is and I was particularly touched when a refugee spoke of his personal experience of detention. Suddenly the room was quiet again. It seems most often real life testimonies are the greatest tool in convincing people that what seems horrific IS horrific. Too often we justify cruelty so as not to face it… Although exhausted by the first day, STAR staff still managed to give us a fun party in an unexpected setting…Returning to a primary school was a blast from the past but I for one enjoyed the mini toilets and impossibly low sinks making me feel like a giant! As we all sat in the main hall, we enjoyed some of the conference’s consistently amazing food, including a delicious curry! The most exquisite sandwiches and perfect weather were our fuel for the long days of learning… Saturday night was a great opportunity to get to know other students and find out what they are up to in their respective STAR groups. It also gave us an excuse to talk openly of all issues relating to refugees, I was quickly engrossed in a conversation about Burmese refugees and then tumbling onto the general work of the UN…Relief from the mental overload came with a creative quiz and a new and improved X factor competition. My team painstakingly learnt ‘We all live in a yellow submarine’ in Lithuanian and embarrassed ourselves with our attempt at submarine-like dance moves…The Kurdish dancing that followed was the perfect amount of exercise and excitement to ease us into a deep sleep on the cold floor of a primary classroom. As crash pad volunteer I took on the maternal role of turning the lights out so all the children could sleep soundly… Sunday: After a cup of tea I was ready to go again and what better start than a Masterclass! This title may have been daunting for Jonathan Ellis but he did not disappoint. I came away inspired to try his technique on my parents who occasionally try and quiz me on the reasons I care for what happens to refugees and asylum seekers. Sunday was a particularly inspirational day with Marjorie from Women for Refugee Women humbling us with her story. This was followed with some practical brainstorming on campaigning and fundraising to equip us STARs with all the tools for creating change in our society. Ultimately however nothing prepared us for the moving speech by Keith Best, Chief Executive of Freedom From Torture. He told of us the great feeling of responsibility that goes hand in hand with helping guide people through a difficult and for many an uncertain time in their lives. Many of us struggled to hold back tears when he shared the story of one individual on the brink of suicide before someone reminded him that he was loved. Although difficult to hear I think all of us were so intrinsically moved that we made internal oaths to do something. That weekend that something started with a simple act…banners up, lollipop ladies at the ready…End Child Detention Now!” By Christina Lumsden, Manchester STAR Some of your fab pics! Join STAR on Facebook to check out more fab pics from the conference! 2011-12-06T14:47:59+00:00 http://www.star-network.org.uk/index.php/news/national_student_conference_book_now/ http://www.star-network.org.uk/index.php/news/national_student_conference_book_now/#When:15:38:58Z Programme now available! Students from 34 universities, refugee activists and experts from UNHCR, Refugee Action, Still Human Still Here and Detention Action will be at the event of the year! The countdown to STAR’s 17th annual National Student Conference has begun! Yes, that means it’s officially time to get excited. This year we are calling on all students to get active and raise their voices for refugee rights. With debates, workshops and speakers from Still Human Still Here, Detention Action, Refugee Action and UNHCR to name but a few, this year’s conference is set to be the best yet! The conference will take place in London on the weekend of the 19th-20th of November in an amazing venue which is buzzing with inspirational peeps! The National Conference is one of the most important dates in STAR’s calendar and is a great opportunity for all students to find out more about refugees, meet other like-minded students, and most importantly, have fun and get planning for the New Year! Programme Hot off the Press! Check out the Conference Programme for a list of fab workshops and speakers and contact us for more info! The conference will run at these times, Saturday 19th November 10.15am – 6.30pm and Sunday 20th November 10am – 3.15pm 2011-10-07T15:38:58+00:00 http://www.star-network.org.uk/index.php/news/fab_freshers/ http://www.star-network.org.uk/index.php/news/fab_freshers/#When:16:06:17Z Stuffing boxes with goodies to help you get back into action! Well STARS, that time of year has come around again: Freshers! Freshers means different things for different people – new friends, new home, new studies. For STAR members it means one other very exciting thing – new students supporting refugees! Now that is something to celebrate. Last year 1,200 of you took part in sleepouts calling for an end to the destitution of refused asylum seekers, hundreds of you took action to promote Equal Access to university and hundreds more served as dedicated volunteers in a range of exciting projects across the UK. From bike recycling to women’s groups, from English conversation classes to sports clubs, STAR members all over the country have set a gold standard in getting out into their communities to support and uphold the rights of refugees. To help to welcome new STAR members and to celebrate a new year of student action for refugees the national team is sending each group a box of fab STAR resources including a T-shirt, badges, balloons, posters, flyers, stickers, leaflets and much, much more. Our supporters at UNHCR, Refugee Council and Refugee Action have also included some materials to help you spread the word and continue the amazing work you do in your local communities. Our new pop-arty conference posters are also on their way, bright and funky to make your stalls stand out! The conference is only 2 months away so keep checking the website for more information! Setting up a new STAR group If you’re just starting University and are having problems tracking down a STAR group just contact the national team and we can help put you in touch. If your University doesn’t currently have a group then why not follow in the footsteps of York and UEL and get a brand spanking new group going this year? We’re always here to offer a helping hand. 2011-09-14T16:06:17+00:00 http://www.star-network.org.uk/index.php/news/apply_now_for_events_and_training_internship/ http://www.star-network.org.uk/index.php/news/apply_now_for_events_and_training_internship/#When:14:38:06Z Join our national team and help make the 2011 conference better than ever! Each year a fabulous intern joins our small and friendly national team, bringing energy and expertise to help make the STAR conference and a range of other training events possible. This is a dynamic role which will give you a unique chance to develop your skills in event management and delivery…it’s also guaranteed to be lots of fun! You’ll have plenty of opportunity to try new things, learn more about refugee issues in the UK and make use of a whole range of skills. Curious? Excited? Get involved! The STAR conference is the only UK National Student Conference about refugees. Check out what we got up to last year. This year it is taking place on the weekend of the 19th and 20th November and will be themed around refugee rights and student activism. We already have some great speakers lined up from our supporters at UNHCR, Refugee Action, Still Human Still Here and Detention Action. As Events and Training intern you’ll also be involved in coordinating a range of other interesting charity training events for students. The closing date for applications is 12pm Wednesday 7th September 201 so don’t hang about, apply now! Applicants must be able to commit 3 days per week for 3 months from the end of September 2011. This position is unpaid but travel and lunch expenses will be provided. National STAR News 2011-08-18T14:38:06+00:00 http://www.star-network.org.uk/index.php/news/star_national_now_star-ing/ http://www.star-network.org.uk/index.php/news/star_national_now_star-ing/#When:15:39:42Z The office is bustling with fresh faces and new ideas as volunteers get creative and Jennifer and Sinead join the national team. This summer has been one of transition at the STAR National office as familiar faces leave to start new projects abroad and two new members of staff join the national team. James, previous Student Network Co-ordinator, has swapped his placard for a rucksack and headed off to South-East Asia, whilst Kevin, the previous Finance and Admin Manager, is working with refugees in South Sudan. Lucinda stepped in for a couple of months to organise Committee Training. Emma, STAR Chief Executive, and Emily, STAR Volunteering Co-ordinator, are keeping up their good work and doing a fab job welcoming the new team. The new Student Network Co-ordinator, Jennifer, joins STAR National from Oxford where she has spent the last five years campaigning and volunteering with STAR Oxford and Asylum Welcome. She holds a BA in Modern Languages and an MSc in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies. Having been wowed by new committee members at the training in July, she can’t wait to start working with groups on campaigning and events in the coming year. The new Administrator, Sinead, joins STAR from our friends, the Zimbabwe Association, and she continues to work part-time with the lovely Asylum Support Appeals Project. She has a degree in Education Studies and has been working in the refugee movement for three years. A host of volunteers have also been bringing their own spark to STAR National this summer, fresh with new ideas and first-hand experience to help us develop resources and strengthen our support structure for the coming year. Ellen is updating the fundraising Group Guide and securing sponsorship for our November conference, whilst Dana is working on training and events – thanks for helping to make the Committee Training a huge success! She’s also preparing materials to help you make your English conversation classes even more fantastic next term. Lamine is helping Sinead keep our finances in order while Jess and David are helping with the website and writing great articles like the latest one on the stats from UNHCR. Check it out! A big thanks also goes to Bareen and Hannah who have been a great support to the office during the transition. Over the next two months we’ll all be working together to help make your freshers fairs better than ever and to ensure that we’ve got a selection of exciting new resources for you in October. Why not drop into the office to say Hi, or get in touch on Facebook to share any bright ideas? STAR National is also looking for a volunteer to fill their spot at the Brighton marathon. It could be you! National STAR News 2011-08-03T15:39:42+00:00 http://www.star-network.org.uk/index.php/news/students_gear_up_to_take_action_against_poverty_and_destitution/ http://www.star-network.org.uk/index.php/news/students_gear_up_to_take_action_against_poverty_and_destitution/#When:10:34:25Z STAR is teaming up with Still Human Still Here to campaign against the destitution of asylum seekers for Action Week this February 20th – 26th . Make sure you’re part of it – download the new Action Pack here! Thousands of people who have fled war, torture and political oppression are living in extreme poverty or destitution in Britain. Some are supported by the government, but simply do not receive enough to meet their basic needs, and others have been refused asylum and receive no support at all. STARs, it’s time to take action! In April 2012, a decision will be taken on whether to increase asylum support rates in line with inflation. We need to make sure that the issue of destitution is high up the agenda so that they make the support system fairer for refugees. This is why STAR is teaming up with Still Human Still Here once again for Action Week 2012 and asking the Government to: Ensure that all asylum seekers are adequately supported until they are either given protection in the UK or returned to their country of origin. Make sure that when they introduce annual increases to Income Support in line with inflation, they do the same for asylum support rates too! Provide asylum seekers with support rates equivalent to at least 70% of Income Support*, paid in cash, and increase the support rate for lone parents to 70% of Income Support immediately. Grant asylum seekers permission to work if their cases have not been resolved in 6 months or they have been refused but cannot be removed through no fault of their own. Action Week is the time when the whole STAR network comes together to campaign for change – make sure you’re a part of it – download your Action Pack now! Download your Action Pack Click on the links below to download the STAR Action Pack. In it you will find: what Action Week is about, essential information on asylum and refugee issues, and loads of suggestions of how to raise awareness and campaign for change! 1. Call to Action 2. Background Information 3. Top Tips for an Awesome Action Week! 4. Campaign Action 1 – Quiz the public 5. STAR Action Week Quiz 6. 5 Minute Briefing 7. Campaign Action 2 – Live on £5 a day 8. Campaign Action 3 – Sleepout Get planning, get creative, get going! It’s time to quiz the public, live on £5 a day, or sleep out on the streets for a night, and show the Government that we want all asylum seekers to be able to support themselves or given enough to live on while they are in the UK. Stay connected STARs, stay up to date with all the latest info and action by liking our brand new STAR Action Week 2012 facebook page! If you don’t have a STAR group at your University and want to get involved, contact STAR national. *Income Support is a means-tested benefit designed to cover essential living costs for people that are not in full-time work in the UK 2012-01-25T10:34:25+00:00 http://www.star-network.org.uk/index.php/news/star_swap_shop_pack_-_download_here/ http://www.star-network.org.uk/index.php/news/star_swap_shop_pack_-_download_here/#When:14:18:19Z Fight the January blues on your campus with a STAR Swap Shop! The New Year is the perfect time to put on a fundraising event for STAR! With the STAR Swap Shop it is out with the old and in with the new as students swap what they don’t want for what they do! The Swap Shop pack can be downloaded below and is full of ideas, a plan and a poster to help you put on an amazing fundraising event. Just pick a date, pick a venue, get advertising and get swapping! All groups, big or small, can raise much needed funds for STAR with the STAR Swap Shop. It can work as a big ticketed event, a fun twist to a dinner party with friends or an exciting addition to a group meeting. Download the STAR Swap Shop pack STAR Swap Shop Pack More information Contact STAR for support with fundraising and more bright ideas! 2012-01-10T14:18:19+00:00