City MP pays tribute to ‘Friends Without Borders’

Writing personally about Portsmouth charity ‘Friends Without Botders’ city MP Stephen Morgan praises work they do to support some of the most vulnerable in our society.
“The people who come to my constituency office with immigration or asylum issues are some of the most ostracised in society. They’ve often fled horrific conflicts in their home countries and are simply seeking a safer, more prosperous future for their families.
By the time they come to me for help, they’ve regularly spent an extended period waiting for Home Office decisions, many have begun to form a life here in the UK, personal relationships, friendships, and have the desire to support themselves, integrate, and enhance our society.

Sadly, many of them find themselves in debt to friends or family, relying on charities or food banks with no access to public services, right to work and live, freedom to travel, or even something as simple as a form of recognised ID.
Friends Without Borders consistently demonstrates the compassion and generosity that our country and city’s reputation is built upon, frequently filling the gaps left by the state.
At Christmas time last year, I shadowed a Friends Without Borders volunteer offering advice to people and more recently visited the centre again to witness first-hand what the team is faced with on a day-to-day basis. I saw a busy, welcoming, and supportive environment, achieved by the inimitable hard work and empathy of all those at the charity.
I’m working hard to support those seeking asylum in our great city in my capacity as an MP, it is a subject I feel passionately about. However, so impressed by the excellent work Friends Without Borders are doing, I was also delighted to be able to donate a portion of my Councillor’s allowance to this brilliant charity.
It is so important that agencies, charities, and organisations work together to help people coming to our city in search of safety and support. Many of the people who come to me for help are at their wits end and are desperate for help with complex applications or even just getting a decision from the Home Office, simply exhausted by ‘living in limbo’.
The UK has a proud history of helping people fleeing violence and persecution and we have both a moral and legal obligation to vulnerable people seeking asylum. However, more needs to be done to reunite families and I am concerned about the efficiency of the processes in place for those who are entitled to join family in the UK, particularly children.
As we know, unaccompanied migrant children are highly vulnerable to trafficking, sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse. On this matter, I’ll be working to ensure FWOB’s efforts are supported by equally compassionate and effective action in Westminster.
Thank you to Michael and the team for showing me around; I look forward to working closely with you all in the future”.