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Kent: Welcoming asylum seekers - new role for barracks

  • Phil Kerton

Around 300 supporters welcomed residents to Napier Barracks

Around 300 supporters welcomed residents to Napier Barracks

The British Army has used land at Shorncliffe near Folkestone since 1794. with the permanent barracks buildings dating from 1890. In 1803, Sir John Moore trained the first Light Infantry Division at Shorncliffe to fight in the Napoleonic Wars under the Duke of Wellington. His 'Shorncliffe System' yielded military methods from which the modern British Army developed. In the twentieth century it was a vital staging post for troops gathering for service on the continent in the two World Wars.

The nearby cemetery contains the graves of three recipients of the Victoria Cross, awarded for bravery during campaigns during the Indian Mutiny and the Boer War.

The requirements of the modern army have dwindled, and large parts of the site have been prepared for sale to civilian developers over the past twenty years. In the past few weeks Napier Barracks has become one of two Ministry of Defence sites used to house asylum seekers while their claims are assessed. Those concerned are young men who have been housed in some of the 90 hotels which the Home Office has used as contingency accommodation this year. It seems that these people will first have arrived in Kent some weeks earlier in small boats. The eventual capacity be up to 400.

Their move to Shorncliffe will cut costs and create space in hotels for women and families. The first new residents arrived on 22 September and it seems likely that they now number over 200. There have already been ugly scenes resulting from anti-migrant demonstrators visiting daily outside the gates. As a consequence various local groups decided to take a more friendly stance.

An hour's 'Welcome Event' held outside the barracks on Saturday 17 October attracted more than 300 supporters. It was organised by several local groups coordinated by 'KRAN', the Kent Refugee Action Network (which has grown from an original proposal from Catholics in the county). Dover's Samphire Project was a co-host, along with many community and faith groups, including Churches Together in Folkestone, Hythe URC, Kent Christian Peace Activists, Folkestone Mosque, Canterbury Mosque, Seeking Sanctuary, Hythe Salvation Army and Folkestone Quakers.There were heart-warming placards and banners on display, and many chants, songs and cheers sounded out to welcome the newcomers, who also showed up in the barracks courtyard with their own welcome messages in response. Despite the wire fence dividing us, all were connected by their common humanity, and even with mask wearing and attempts at social distancing, the mood was one of pure celebration and solidarity.

A strong police presence kept few dozen protestors some distance away until the welcome party broke up.

Meantime, the Red Cross has pointed out that military premises are totally inappropriate for housing asylum seekers, many of who will have fled unimaginable horrors, including conflict, persecution, and imprisonment in their home countries.

Others fear that the run-down buildings, vacant for a number of years, are unsuited to Covid-proof life, with up to 14 beds per room beds separated into 'cubicles' by hanging sheets and only one leaky toilet per 100 residents. The welcome gathering genuinely seems to have raised spirits. A message received on Saturday said: "I am a resident of Napier Barracks, and I felt very satisfied with everyone who came to welcome us. You broke the barrier of fear and anxiety that we had. You made us feel welcome in your beautiful town. Thank you all from the bottom of the heart."

And in the outside communities a number of local initiatives are getting started at gathering supplies for the asylum seekers. However, at the same time, the Children's Commissioner has visited the intake unit for new arrivals a few miles away in the port of Dover. She has expressed serious concern for the welfare of young people who get stuck there, sleeping on the floor alongside adults for two or three days while homes are found for them across the country, suitable homes in Kent having been filled.

LINKS

Seeking Sanctuary - https://seekingsanctuary.weebly.com/

Far-right 'fuel hate' over Folkestone asylum-seeker barracks
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-54297574

Inside Napier Barracks
www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/inside-napier-barracks-refugee-lifts-4618126

Heart-warming moment asylum seekers wave back at supporters
www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/news/heart-warming-moment-asylum-seekers-wave-back-at-supporters-235737/

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