Retiring chairman of refugee and asylum seeker group honoured with civic award from Portsmouth City Council

The 76-year-old has received the Portsmouth City Council Civic Award as he stands down as chairman and coordinator of asylum support group Friends Without Borders due to ill health.

Michael began his work with refugees and asylum seekers in 1998 by volunteering with the Haslar Visitors Group, which was launched as a network of volunteers visiting immigrants detained in the now closed Haslar detention centre in Gosport.

Since then, Michael has helped hundreds of people secure their right to asylum within in the UK, and has been left humbled by the council’s scroll and medal honouring his achievements.

The recognition has ‘lifted the spirits’ of the devout Quaker during his recent health problems.

He said: ‘It is very sustaining to have so many people praying for you and supporting you – it really does mean a lot.

‘As for the award, I must stress it’s a team effort. And the team has really come together at this point.

‘We have about 30 volunteers and they are fantastic.’

Friends Without Borders became staffed entirely by volunteers in 2015, allowing for an increase in grants to asylum seekers, with the group now giving a total of £4,000 a month to more than 150 people across the area.

The payments are often vital for asylum seekers who need to make a second application to the government, with more than 40 per cent of these applicants leading to asylum being granted, according to Michael.

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A spokeswoman from Friends Without Borders said: ‘We think it is justly deserved to recognise Michael’s contribution, over two decades of support for asylum seekers and refugees in Portsmouth.

‘Michael has built a strong community of volunteers, all working together to support those seeking asylum in Portsmouth.’

Friends Without Borders operates a drop-in centre at All Saints’ Church in Commercial Road, which is now temporarily closed due to the national lockdown.

The Lord Mayor of Portsmouth and patron of the organisation, Councillor Rob Wood, made a socially-distanced presentation of the award to Michael, who lives in Chichester city centre.

Cllr Wood said: 'This award says thank you on behalf of the city for all of Michael's outstanding work. It's extremely well deserved and is a fitting recognition of his inspirational role with Friends Without Borders.'

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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