Afrikana CIC Welcomes Carlisle MP to the Afrikana Centre

This week, Afrikana CIC was pleased to host Julie Minns MP at the Afrikana Centre, alongside members of the Cumberland Sanctuary Network steering group. We deeply appreciate her presence and the open, constructive discussions that took place.

During the meeting, community members, a family from from Egypt bravely shared their personal experiences of refugee family reunification, highlighting its emotional toll on young children. Concerns were raised about the new restrictions on family reunion, with a call for these to be addressed at the highest level to prevent long-term harm and to support successful integration.

We also discussed wider community cohesion challenges, including the visible use of flags and harmful rhetoric circulating on social and local media. These issues affect not only people seeking sanctuary but also black and brown residents across Carlisle. We asked the MP to use her platform to challenge hate speech at every opportunity and to model accurate, respectful language, reminding all that no one is illegal.

Further points included the urgent need for Share Codes for asylum seekers with the right to work, which would remove barriers to employment and allow skilled individuals to contribute to the economy.

We thank Julie Minns for listening, engaging meaningfully with these issues and committing to explore ways of raising them further. Afrikana CIC looks forward to continuing collaboration to secure the best outcomes for all immigrants in Carlisle.