Charities responding to the far-right riots

Many are scared and are staying indoors even if they need to go get essentials. Especially in areas where they are already facing challenges of anti-social behaviour which is usually race related. So more traumas are being visited on our communities.

The women and their families are very frightened, not allowing their sons out at all - not going out as a family and so on. I have just responded to an email from a women who was doing her usual weekly shop - felt everyone was looking at her because she is wearing a hijab. Many women are not coming to our usual drop in tomorrow. We have liaised with council, police and sent out their statements to reassure - but of course that only goes so far. Just doing the most that we can.

We are in touch with most of our clients who most of them are accommodated at hotels across the UK. It is really threatening to their children and themselves parents and adults as well because it reminds them of what they fled from their countries of origins, now facing it here the UK.

We've been ringing round them today. Even people who aren't held in hotels but who live in targeted areas, are distressed after seeing footage of the riots in their locality. Most people we have spoken to today say they are not going outside. We also hear that the far right plan a riot at local hotel accommodation on Friday and know that refugee support groups are being targeted. We're in consultation with local police and the Council who lease our offices about the security of our staff.

I'm particularly concerned for those who may have been moved to unfamiliar areas due to fleeing domestic abuse, to refuges further away from their support networks, etc. Also, for those who may already have been high risk due to suicidal ideation, etc. Those who may also be too scared to flee abusive situations right now. We are doing the best we can with the resources we have. Staff are very stretched, with long waiting lists, so trying to look after them where we can too. Hoping and praying things are under control soon.

Unfortunately, due to the intel received yesterday afternoon we are having to close our offices this week. Due to our location, we cannot guarantee the safety of our participants, staff and volunteers – I am aware of the verbal-racial abuse people have received on their way to the city centre yesterday. This is very unfortunate as we had a series of events planned this week, including an employability programme and a digital course for asylum seekers.

We have volunteers reporting being afraid to leave their homes, so restructuring activities for them to take place online where possible. We have taken other precautionary measures such as cancelling in person events and minimising face to face appointments, at least this week.

As for the violence on Sunday it makes no sense, as a community we did a lot of work to integrate in the very early days. We supported each other, donating clothing and toiletries and in return they donated skill helping with DIY, decorating and gardening. We were in the planning stages of a new project but obviously not to be now.

It is possible that there will be a far-right demonstration in the city this evening, more likely that there will be one at our office on Wednesday, though the police, with whom we have met today,  have no idea what numbers to expect.

We’ve closed the centre and are hardening the building against attack.  An army of volunteer carpenters have helped us board the place up and we’ve had advice from the Fire Brigade, Police and City safety on improvements. We’re contacting as many people as we can and liaising with the council around speaking to the local residents.

We had to put extra security measures in place to safeguard staff. We have paused our drop in sessions at the Hotel for this week as it was targeted on Sunday but planning to go back in next week.

We have had to make changes to our plans. It is an extremely dangerous situation we are seeing that highlights further the importance of our work. As an organisation we will be reaching out to other organisations for collective efforts to educate and eradicate this extreme far right narrative that targets me, my team, my clients and the wider Muslim and refugee communities and those seeking asylum.

We are increasingly concerned about reports that the EDL plans to target in the evening. To ensure the safety of our members, we are advising them to avoid unnecessary travel and to remain vigilant that day. Previously, the Mosque was targeted by the EDL, an event that ultimately strengthened the unity of our diverse communities. We hope this situation will foster the same sense of solidarity. Additionally, we are reviewing our center's safety measures in light of rumours suggesting that community organisations supporting migrants and refugees might also be targeted.

We have received news of a specific far-right threat to protest outside our building on Wednesday night. We are in touch with the police and are taking precautions. We are not involved in or encouraging any counter-protest around our office on Wednesday, as we do not want people to put themselves at risk to defend empty buildings. We are grateful for and moved by your expressions of solidarity, and we will continue our work, while taking precautions to protect our clients, volunteers and staff.

It feels doubly important to be going into the hotels at the moment, and continuing to engage with new arrivals in the city and county. They are the groups likely to feel most exposed and under threat, and who, except for liaising with the police, we can do least to protect should a demonstration take place there.

I’m visiting the hotel later today to provide support and am in contact with home office accommodation providers and our police liaison. I am also risk assessing our working practices while this shameful chaos unfolds.

We have been compiling a list of members, what hotel they are staying in and their contact details in case we hear of any attacks. We are particularly prioritising a list of anyone with more complex mental health or physical health needs that need to be prioritised in an emergency. We are developing a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) document on how people will be evacuated when they have difficulty responding to any possible attacks such as fire to the building or physical threat of attacks or escaping from a building unaided, in the event of an emergency for people with disabilities, so we could also check that their accommodation has this in place.

The situation is very distressing, scary and frightening but so far we are all still safe. Today the my team and I have spent all day checking in with our clients dispersed in different areas and fortunately they have all yet responded to be safe but of course being very frightened.