Runnymede

Bulletin

Runnymede have published the Spring edition of our Bulletin, which focuses on young people

You can read it here (.pdf) or, for an easy-read version, here (.doc)

Romans Revealed

In partnership with the University of Reading, Runnymede has launched a new website called Romans Revealed, which looks at just how diverse Roman Britain was.

Find out more here

Equality Scorecard

Kingston Scorecard

Runnymede has launched the first race equality scorecard in Kingston.

The Scorecard project is an innovative way of collecting and monitoring data on racial inequalities and will enable local partners and stakeholders to hold service providers to account for racial inequalities in their areas.

Watch the film and read the report

Race Debate

The Runnymede Trust hosted its annual race debate in January, with this year's event focusing on whether racists have the right to be heard.

You can now watch the video in full of the debate by clicking here.

Measuring Child Poverty

Runnymede has responded to the Government's consultation on measuring child poverty.

Read our open letter here.

Runnymede

£25,000 raised to save asylum information centre

29 June 2010


Individual supporters and funders have donated £25,000 over six weeks to save the Information Centre about Asylum and Refugees (ICAR) from definite closure.

More than £3,000 came via cheques and online donations given by concerned members of the public and small organisations.

ICAR, previously based at London City University, was to become a casualty of higher education sector cuts when the university announced its inability to house the centre in April 2010. Without this base, ICAR was certain to close by the end of June 2010.

More than 85 students wrote in protest at the threatened closure.

The centre, which provides an invaluable source of unbiased information about asylum and refugees, managed to find a new home at the eleventh hour courtesy of race equality thinktank the Runnymede Trust.

However, once Runnymede had stepped forward in May 2010, the two organisations then had just six weeks to raise £25,000 to cover the costs of the move, without which ICAR would have had to close permanently.

Thanks to the generosity of individuals who donated via a dedicated web page and contributions from ICAR’s existing funders, the centre will now be able to function as normal, based at the Runnymede offices in central London.

Journalist Melanie McFadyean, who regularly writes for the Guardian, personally donated £100 to the campaign. She said: “We are ignorant about what is happening to asylum seekers in the UK and will be even more so if such an important outfit as ICAR were to be disbanded.”  

Dr Rayah Feldman of London South Bank University said:

“ICAR is highly respected among academics and others concerned with obtaining accurate information about immigration in the UK. I know of no other resource in the UK that examines such a broad range of issues on asylum in such a trustworthy way.”

Dr Nissa Finney of the University of Manchester said:

“ICAR provides an invaluable source of impartial information. No other such organisation exists in Britain.”

ICAR director, Neil Amas, said:

“We feel greatly indebted to the public, without whose generosity we would not be able to continue to do this vital work.”

Under the new arrangement ICAR will continue to operate as an independent centre, while benefiting from and contributing to the running costs and management support of Runnymede.  

We are still fundraising to help keep ICAR going for as long as possible and cushion both our organisations against further cuts. If you are able to, please donate at online via the Big Give by clicking on the logo below:

For further information, see the ICAR website or contact Jacob Lagnado on 020 7040 4596 or at Jacob.Lagnado.1@city.ac.uk    


Latest News

The Runnymede Trust and a network of national organistions comitted to equal opportunities have expressed concerns to the Governments recent reform to transforming legal aid.

Please click here to read the submission response to the proposal.

The latest review of the National Curriculum by the Government proposes that no BME cultures or individuals are learned about until pupils are 11 years old.

Read our response to this proposal by clicking here

Omar Khan, our Head of Policy Research, gave evidence at the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia on the 21st March.

You can read a transcript of the meeting here

Runnymede on Twitter

Event: Changing values and sharing norms with our Senior Policy and Research Analyst for education on Thursday. http://t.co/AQp27Z0t4c
Civil liberties groups file lawsuit over NYPD surveillance of Muslims http://t.co/MMLYKvSxtG via @guardian
@davidinossett @Debbie_abrahams You can get further info about the APPG Race and Community's work here http://t.co/DXLq6uStH2
RT @Debbie_abrahams: Very pleased to have been elected Vice-Chair of the APPG on Race & Community. Look forward to working with colleagues …
Great line up for #SL20 in support of the Stephen Lawrence Trust. Hear from some of the artists http://t.co/ZP7P0WvYLW @S_LawrenceTrust
Kevin Maxwell: 'I was meant to be the future. I ticked the boxes' http://t.co/Y9fiQimeY3 via @Independent
RT @royboywilliams: Roy Williams: An OBE is for achievement, not bowing to Empire http://t.co/Ry5upfIXdU
Migration picking up but rising unemployment hurting immigrants http://t.co/oAcFVTLFYT
UK Children's Commissioners endorse concerns of APPG Migration report on family immigration policy @migrants_rights http://t.co/D95BZn7Q9n
Follow us on Twitter follow us on Twitter