Boosting the Signal: Refugee and Migrant Justice UK

by Shaker A. Lee

[My sincerest thanks to Melissa for allowing me the opportunity to write this guest post.]

Refugee and Migrant Justice is a UK charity dedicated to offering legal aid to asylum seekers in Britain. They provide advice and representation for migrants attempting to navigate an unfamiliar system, among them child refugees and victims of torture and trafficking. I'm not here to proselytise for RMJ, but suffice to say that the threatened loss of the organisation would leave many very vulnerable people in the lurch.

Why is the organisation under threat? Yesterday, RMJ had to go into administration, and the future of the charity is now unclear. It's not lack of money that's the issue, but a government policy that's led to a severe cash-flow problem. A policy put in place by the last government, and being maintained by the new coalition, means that payment of legal aid to the charity is sometimes delayed for years. As a charity, it's just about impossible for RMJ to cover their costs with this delayed-payment system.

As their website explains:

The problem is that the Legal Services Commission, which funds legal aid work, has changed its payment scheme. We used to get paid monthly to cover the work we do. But now, we get paid only after each case has closed, which depends on the timing of Home Office and tribunal decisions. Asylum cases can take months, or even years, but RMJ still faces the cost of doing the work. No charity can be expected to wait that long for payment and no private sector organisation will be able to replace RMJ's outstanding commitment to those with the greatest needs. As a charity, it is also not possible for us to get bank loans.

RMJ is not asking for extra money, just for the Legal Services Commission to pay us the money it owes us or, failing that, give Government backed interest free loans to make up the difference. The new Government is committed to a fundamental review of legal aid and this is the perfect opportunity to cut out inefficiency and pay providers like RMJ promptly and fairly.

So here's the call to teaspoons: Letters asking the government to work to change the payment system, or to back loans to tide charities over between payments, can be sent to

The Secretary of State for Justice, Kenneth Clarke MP
Ministry of Justice
102 Petty France
London SW1H 0AL

One can download a form letter from RMJ at this link. (This link also lists email addresses to which to write, for those for whom that's the better option.)

UK-based Shakers can also send a copy to their local MPs. (You can find your local MPs here by punching in your postcode.)


Happily, the threat to RMJ has been getting media attention. (Here, for instance, is yesterday's article from The Guardian.) However, it's my firm belief that it's the grass-roots movers, Shakers, and teaspooners who can really get the ball rolling on things like this. Getting the word out and making some noise is important on this one—not just for RMJ's sake, but to set a precedent for how charities in general are to be treated here under our new government as it looks to cut expenses.

(Disclaimer: I do not work for, nor am I officially affiliated with, RMJ. I am an "economic immigrant" to the UK, but one born into the massive privilege of EU membership.)