A Film by Camcorder Guerillas, Scotland, 2004 (20 minutes)

Welcome tells the stories of three homeless refugees, as they try to survive destitution in Glasgow.

click here to download/view the film

narrated by Elaine C. Smith.

There is a human rights crisis in Scotland. Hundreds of asylum seekers are being thrown out of their flats onto the streets of Glasgow and left destitute. They are in limbo, banned from taking jobs, unable to return to their home country, prey to violence and abuse. Even the police are shocked.

According to the tabloids asylum-seekers are spoilt scroungers.

However hundreds of refugees are being put out of their flats with no benefits and no right to work. Unable to return to their countries, they're in a stateless limbo on Glasgow's streets.

‘Welcome’ tells the story of three homeless refugees who reveal their experiences of life on the streets in Glasgow. Local people share their outrage at the treatment of asylum seekers while Chief supt Alex McDonald of Strathclyde Police calls for anyone who has a spare room to take in a refugee to keep them off the streets and out of danger.

"My life is frozen", says a Zimbabwean maths teacher who's been living "underground" since being evicted from his Red Road flat.

"I'm existing, but it's not a life. I don't think Scottish people know we are being chucked on the street, or they would not allow it to happen."

The issue of destitue asylum-seekers is a 'hidden' issue that has not been covered by the mainstream media. Camcorder Guerillas have responded by producting a video to tell the truth about this situation.

Welcome has been made to motivate people to take action by providing a spare room for homeless refugees and by lobbying Glasgow City Councillors, MSPs and MPs to change the law.

Welcome was awarded first prize at the Positive Image of Asylum Award by the NUJ in 2005 and has been screened widely in communities, union branches, churches, mosques, colleges as well as in many festivals and events in the UK.

Welcome has been made with no funding. Filmakers volunteered their skills, using borrowed and donated equipment. Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT) donated a weekend lunchtime slot for the premiere event. Clydeside Press has printed leaflets free.

What you can do

Donate money to Positive Action Housing

Visit the Positive Action Housing ‘make a donation’ page

Positive Action Housing is a Scottish minority-ethnic housing charity who work closely with communities. The website has lots of information on the latest news and campaigns.

offer accommodation

Positive Action in Housing, 98 West George Street, Glasgow G2 1PJ                                                                     Tel: (0141) 353 2220 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Offer a Bail address, Visit individuals or families held in Dungavel 

Visit Close Dungavel Now website
 

Email and fax your MSP

Email your MSP/MP – get information on your MSP/MP here and let them know how you feel about this issue.

Alternatively you can fax your MP for free from here -http://www.faxyourmp.com/ 

Buy a solidarity copy of Welcome? Asylum compilation, featuring Welcome as well as 4 other films on the issue of Asylum, destitution and Detention

The one thing Camcorder Guerillas do have to pay for is making DVD copies of the film to distribute as widely as possible. It is crucial to get the message out.

Arrange a screening

Organise a screening in your own community. Email us for a copy of the Welcome? DVD 

The premiere of ‘Welcome’ took place at the Glasgow Film Theatre on Saturday 19 June 2004. After the screening a panel of refugees and campaigners led a discussion on what action we can take to stop the scandal of refugees being evicted and left destitute.

Campaign Update (CLICK)?

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All Camcorder Guerilla films are made by a voluntary collective - if you would like to know more , make a donation or would like to get involved then please follow the links.