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  1. Campaigns
  2. Keeping Families Together
  3. 5 days of action for families

5 days of action for families

There's never been a more important time to take action in support of families who are separated because of how much the UK-based partner earns. It becomes clearer each and every day how unjust these rules are - now we need to make sure all our representatives in Parliament know, too.

This is a historic moment. MPs are about to decide on the biggest changes in the history of this country's immigration system, as they debate and vote on a landmark Immigration Bill. 

That's why, from Monday 15 June, we're launching 5 days of action for families - and we want you to take part, too! We'll be sharing 5 actions you can take in the space of 5 minutes each to raise your voice and help grow our movement for change. 

It's time to gather all our energy and push forwards towards a brighter future for all families!

Day One

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Our first action for the week is so simple, but so important. Your MP has the power to vote to scrap the rule that keeps families apart - the Minimum Income Requirement.

Writing to your MP lets them know that the Minimum Income Requirement is an issue that concerns you as their constituent, and that you'd like to see them take action. The more constituents that do this, the more likely they are to do what's right and vote to suspend the MIR.

So the first action in our 5 Days of Action for Families is to write to your MP.

You can do this really quickly and easily by clicking here, or on the button below. Type in your postcode and you'll see a template message pop up, already addressed to your MP. The message can be edited, so please do this if you'd like to add any personal reflections - this can really help get an MP's attention. Once you've sent your message, you can also share the action to social media in one click, so that other people do the same. 

I'll write to my MP!

It's so important that MPs know what their constituents are thinking, and what issues are of concern to them. Writing to them about the MIR is one of the most important things you can do to bring about change. 

Stay tuned for Day Two!

Published: 15th June, 2020

Author: Mary Atkinson

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Day Three

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Thank you so much to everyone who emailed 5 friends about the Home Office's anti-family income rules, as part of Day Two's action. Social media is also such an important tool for spreading the word, and today's action is super simple: share a message about the campaign, and why you support it, on social media. This could be on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or whatever other platforms you might use.

There are some suggested posts below, which you can just copy and paste to post. They include a link to help people write to their MP. Of course, please do freestyle if you want to - just be sure to include that link, which is www.jcwi.org.uk/scrapMIRnow.

If you're writing your own post, you could include links to recent news articles about the MIR, for example:

  • Barbara's story - Barbara is an NHS cancer care co-ordinator, but she's had to take on a second frontline job in order to meet the Home Office's income requirement. She is pregnant, and doesn't want to have to give birth alone. Her story is here: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/coronavirus-nhs-bame-staff_uk_5edd5dc5c5b6c78ceb00fb1f
  • Erika and Rebecca's story - Erika and Rebecca are key workers who have been risking their own health to look after other people's families during the pandemic. But the government says they don't earn enough to have their own families together. Their story is here: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/minimum-income-requirement-key-workers-coronavirus_uk_5ec54bb8c5b6729758746bfc

If you're using Twitter, find out your MP's handle and be sure to tag them in your tweet! You can find your MP's Twitter handle by entering your postcode here. 

Take a look below and let's get posting - we can't wait to see your tweets and posts!

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In 2020, families are being split up because of how much they earn. I believe that's wrong. Find out more and take action here: www.jcwi.org.uk/scrapMIRnow

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The @ukhomeoffice has built a system that splits people from their loved ones if they happen to be on a low income. I want them to have some compassion and let families be together, no matter what www.jcwi.org.uk/scrapMIRnow

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In the UK right now, you have to "earn" your right to love. Our system tells people on a lower income that they don't deserve a family life. How can that be fair, or right? Find out more here: www.jcwi.org.uk/scrapMIRnow

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Our broken spouse visa rules put a price on the right to live with your family. Women and people of colour are disproportionately hit by these rules. That simply isn't right - let's make a change now: www.jcwi.org.uk/scrapMIRnow

Published: 18th June, 2020

Author: Mary Atkinson

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Day Two

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The action for day two in our 5 Days of Action for Families is simple: email 5 friends to let them know you've taken action, and ask them to do so as well.

It's only together that we can make a change. The impact of yesterday's action was amazing - imagine how much bigger our voice could be if every person who took action yesterday was able to speak to 5 people they know and ask them to, as well.

We all have really busy lives, especially at the moment, so there's a draft email you can use below. If you're big on energy but short on time, you can just copy and paste the text below into your email to friends. If you want to write something personal, that's amazing! Just make sure you include the link to help your friends write to their MP quickly and easily - it's here: https://www.jcwi.org.uk/ask-your-mp-to-protect-families-affected-by-covid-19.

Let's raise our voices, magnify our impact and make sure MPs know that they need to fix this, urgently. 


I'm sending you this email because I've been moved by finding out about the heartbreaking situation that many families in this country are living in. Too many people have to live apart from their loved ones because of a policy that not many people know about. This rule - the Minimum Income Requirement - means that your right to a family life is based on how much you earn.

If your income is less than £18,600 a year, and you happen to fall in love with someone from outside Europe, you'll be barred from living in the UK with them. Everyone should have the right to a family, but at the moment it's a right reserved for people on a good income. 

The Minimum Income Requirement already means that tens of thousands of British people are separated from a loved one, or have had to leave the UK in order to live with their partner, because this country's immigration rules stopped them from having a life together here.

One of them is Barbara, who works in the NHS but has had to take on a second frontline job during the pandemic, because her job as a cancer clinic coordinator didn’t pay her enough to have her husband here. You can watch a short video here, where she explains her story and the impact this system has had on her. There’s also a report that has more details about these rules, and the stories of other frontline workers whose families are at risk because of this policy – you can read it here.

We all know that the economic consequences of the current pandemic will leave many more of us struggling financially - I'm worried many more families will also then end up on the wrong side of Home Office rules, and will face being split up because their income has fallen. 

Yesterday, I wrote to my MP asking them to reform this system. I'm emailing to ask you to do the same – the more that MPs hear their constituents raise concerns about this system, the more likely they are to do what’s right and vote to change it.

You can do this really quickly and easily by clicking here, or copying and pasting this into your web browser: https://www.jcwi.org.uk/ask-your-mp-to-protect-families-affected-by-covid-19 Just put in your postcode and it will bring up a message addressed to your MP.

The tough times we’re all going through at the moment have shown that family is more important than ever. I don’t think it’s right that some people have more right to a family than others, just because of how much money they have.

Thank you!

Published: 16th June, 2020

Author: Mary Atkinson

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