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SNR Responds with Caution to Changing Political Dynamic and Community Capacity
Anyone familiar with Sanctuary’s work will know that, particularly from a strategic perspective, the Board endeavours to be vigilant with respect to its responsibility to its main stakeholders –those we seek to reach and support, those who assist so generously, and the community more generally. We take this responsibility with genuine concern – in the hope and expectation that we enhance the lives and communities that with whom we principally engage.
I have written elsewhere of the delicate balance that this entails, and indeed, there have been several occasions in recent years when these concerns have been taken to our broader community to seek input and direction.
During the last reporting year, we had received more arrivals than in any other year in our eight year history. This required extra-ordinary effort by many to provide the daily support for families as needed, to find and secure adequate housing, to link in to services and look for opportunities for employment. This placed a significant demand on our resources particularly in terms of volunteers. As a consequence, there is some catching up to do – bringing our systems up to date, strengthening our volunteer support base and refining our ongoing role of support to those we have settled. The Board has determined a little breathing space is needed.
The “push factors” – the ongoing call of many who dwell in intolerable circumstance continue relentlessly. Sadly, however, we have seen a sharp decline in success of visa applications that we have sponsored – likely as a consequence of global and domestic political pressures. This has the unfortunate consequence that many who previously would likely have been granted a visa now find their applicant rejected and the door to a new life here closed.
During the past 18 months, in recognising these constraints, we have been advising prospective applicants to hold off until a climate of readiness is restored. This response has not been fully satisfactory, for now, with doors seemingly closed to all but a very small number, we feel that we may be prolonging unjustified hope.
These issues have provoked the SNR Board to think carefully about the short to medium term. In a way, this has provided the opportunity and impetus to allow us to re-group and strengthen locally. We have reached the position that for the next 12 – 18 months we will not undertake active sponsorship. In light of this, there will be no active fundraising, and just a skeletal approach to support and administration, given that the last arrivals in the community were in August 2010. During this period of quiescence, we will attend to several aspects of structural and organisational improvement.
Mid to late next year, we will consider how to move forward – perhaps with a wider brief, perhaps with similar focus; this will be contingent upon community aspiration and an understanding of the government policy approach at the time. The core focus of our work will remain within the social justice constructs of refugee matters – and we will endeavour to communicate this with both those who call on our support, and those who wish to assist with support.
Michael Douglas
President
June, 2011 |