Greater Manchester Asylum Hotels Group response to the protests outside hotels
In recent months, we have seen an increase in protests and demonstrations outside asylum hotels, driven by misinformation and fear. These protests have created an atmosphere of tension. For people living in the hotels, it can feel intimidating and unsafe.
Much of what is said about asylum hotels simply isn’t accurate. The people staying there are not responsible for the situation they’re in. They are individuals and families who have come to the UK seeking safety — people who have fled war, persecution, or danger, and are now waiting, often for many months, for a decision on their asylum claim. During that time, they have little control over where they live, what they eat, and they are not allowed to work.
In response to the protests and the misunderstandings surrounding asylum accommodation, a group of people with lived experience of life in hotels across Greater Manchester have come together to share their perspective. The Greater Manchester Asylum Hotels Group have written a statement to respond directly to the concerns and questions they’ve heard from local communities.
Their message is one of openness, understanding, and hope. They want to be part of their new communities, to contribute, and to live safely alongside their neighbours.
We’re sharing their statement below because, at a time when fear and division can so easily take hold, it’s more important than ever to listen to those directly affected — and to replace rumours with real voices and lived experience.
VCFSE organisations are being asked to sign an open letter to supporting the campaign, keep volunteering voluntary, in response to plans to tie people's immigration status to a series of new conditions, including mandatory volunteering. You can find out more here.
