Refugee Studies

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RAP 1987-2007

background
Refugee Arrivals Project was set up in the late 80's by a coalition of RCOs (?) as a response to the lack of reception arrangements for asylum seekers arriving at Heathrow. The organisation maintained offices in the airport and provided accommodation and support.

www.refugee-arrivals.org.uk

RAP worked over a period that saw a sustained rise in refugee numbers and public awareness of the situation through the decade of the 90's, and then a drop in arrivals again as the UK government tightened visa restrictions on refugee producing countries and imposed new and increasingly bizarre and cruel legislation on immigrants every other year.


Sources:
ASYLUM STATISTICS UNITED KINGDOM 1997
'Key statistics about asylum seeker arrivals in the UK'
homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/

RAP grew over the years and employed 100's of people as staff, volunteers, interpreters and greeted 1000's of clients from all over the world

RAP's strengths

- unique organisation, pioneering work
- dedication to clients
- culture of refugee empowerment
- committment to equal opportunities and a diverse team
- located at world's busiest airport

RAP quit the reception centre at thorncliffe in '06?
RAP closed it's doors in 2007. 2 teams joined with RC and are based in Hounslow.

My Experience
I started working at RAP in 1995 as a student, and have very sweet memories of my first year working as community support worker with newly arrived clients around london. The role of welcoming people to uk was a great privilege and was at the heart of RAP's mission.
That year was an education to me in the hidden world of the immigration system, and RAP colleagues supported me and treated me as a member of the RAP family. My image of RAP as a band of ninja activists in the tunnels of heathrow was not exactly correct, but we were a small team of hard-working and exceptionally dedicated people with whom i spent 5 inspiring years.

research project
aims:

- tell the story of RAP, recognise, acknowledge and celebrate RAP’s achievements
- establish RAP archive?
- conserve RAP legacy
- document & gain insight into an important period in the history of asylum in UK
- present positive images of RAP to help overcome the traumatic experiences of those affected by the closure of the organisation
- Investigate the impact of RAP observer function at LHR
- Gather Learning points from history of RAP

possible methodologies:

- Collect RAP information; Annual Reviews, Photos, Reports, Minutes & other documentation
- Contact former RAP workers, clients and other stakeholders & encourage contributions of experiences, memories, testimonies & stories
- Interview former RAP staff and clients
- Record and share findings on RS forum & encourage participation from former RAP staff and clients

Bibliography/Links
Documents
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ERORecords/HO/415/1/reu/airport.htm
http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/registeredcharities/showcharity.asp?regno=1013556
http://www.ramproject.org.uk/bulletins/bulletin.php?story=45274&latest_date=2003-10-13
History
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199899/cmstand/special/st990318/90318s06.htm
http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/rdsolr1703.pdf
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ero/browse.aspx?id=3120&level=5&entrypoint=HO/415/1/ind/support.pdf
http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/Products/NATIONAL-REPORT/D9E27097-6916-4F34-A79F-B09BDA0ED352/anothercountry.pdf
http://www.womenscommission.org/pdf/UK_Trafficking.pdf
http://www.womenagainstrape.net/Initiatives/AsylumFromRape/StopCollaborating.htm
http://www.allwomencount.net/EWC%20LAW/Press%20Conference%20Funding%20asylum%20NGOs.htm
http://www.standup.comboniyouth.org.uk/london/tesfa.rtf
http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/equalities/immigration/bril/20060726/item3a.pdf
https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/en/docs/reception.pdf
http://www.ifrc.org/docs/pubs/vol/case02.pdf
http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/news/opendoc.htm?tbl=NEWS&id=428c9ffe2
http://www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk/info/IAP_Aug_07
Literature Review
http://jrs.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/11/3/215.pdf
http://books.google.co.uk/books?q=%22refugee+arrivals+project%22&btnG=Search+Books
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=-Z9gedHjMW8C&pg=PA172&dq=refugee+arrivals+project
Images
http://www.guardian.co.uk/newsroom/story/0,11718,984167,00.html
http://www.ecre.org/files/report02.pdf
http://www.opendoor-ne.org/destitute_and_desperate.pdf
People
http://www.refugee-action.org.uk/about/KeyPeople.aspx
http://www.boyle.family.btinternet.co.uk/order_of_the_british_empire.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/pm/1680822.stm
http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2002/01/31/34905/trade-in-misery.html
http://www.fpa.org.uk/attachments/published/794/PDF%20Sexual%20health%20in%20exile%202007.pdf
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-5245488.html !
http://www.hotfroguk.co.uk/Companies/Refugee-Arrivals-Project
http://webwhois.nic.uk/cgi-bin/whois.cgi?query=refugee-arrivals.org.uk&WHOIS+Submit.x=0&WHOIS+Submit.y=0

last edited: 19/04/2008, 04/07/2008. 28/07/08,10/7/09

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