NRPF Solidarity Fund for COVID-19

NRPF Solidarity Hardship Fund


We believe that "No Recourse to Public Funds" (NRPF) is a form of state produced and enforced destitution, causing hunger and homelessness, and trapping people in conditions of exploitation and violence. The impact of NRPF is only made worse by the current coronavirus crisis which disproportionately affects Black and Minority Ethnic people, who make up the majority of those negatively affected by NRPF. The coronavirus lock down is making it even more difficult for people with NRPF to ensure that they have adequate food and shelter for their families. We don't believe anyone should have to make terrible choices between social distancing for health reasons or accessing food, shelter, or work to survive. Increased and unpayable debt is not a solution. 

Marginalised migrants, and the communities and grassroots organistions they are a part of including NELMA, should not have to step in to redress the destitution created by the UK's NRPF policy. However, we recognise that this is an urgent emergency situation. We have set up a solidarity hardship fund for those who do not have recourse to public funds. 

We continue to call for the NRPF condition to be scrapped in its entirety and for the government to set up an emergency fund that supports EVERYONE in the UK to have adequate shelter, food, and other costs of living, regardless of their immigration status.  

The NRPF Solidarity Hardship Fund is a one-time support of £30 available on request. Contact  [email redacted] with your name and bank details.

The NRPF Solidarity Fund has been operating for the last few weeks. So far, the fund has made one off-payments of £30 to over 100 families, and we are getting many incoming requests every day. This is yet more evidence that the inhumane NRPF regime pushes people into destitution, prevents them from meeting their basic needs, and needs to be stopped.

 
About NELMA:

NELMA brings together activists from across London to campaign on issues faced by migrants in vulnerable positions in our communities. As a network of volunteers that aims to centre the experiences and amplify the voices of migrant people, NELMA challenges injustices towards families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF), through our Section 17 Accompanying Scheme, and active campaigns. NELMA’s current campaign focuses on free school meals (FSM) for all children, regardless of immigration status. Between 2016-2017, NELMA coordinated a campaign against the Home Office’s policy of detaining and deporting EEA national rough sleepers.