Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN)

Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN) supports young unaccompanied refugees who cross the English Channel illegally into the county of Kent, England. It was established in 2003 and is located in Canterbury, Kent County, England. 1 It provides education, mentoring, advocacy, and other support services and advocates for refugees through campaigns, lobbying Parliament, and through refugee youth activism. 2

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At-A-Glance

Type: Organization, Other
Issue Areas: Immigration Policy
Website: www.kran.org.uk
Formation:

2003

CEO:

Razia Shariff

Location:

Canterbury, United Kingdom

Charity Number:

1097886

Contents

    Background

    Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN) was founded in 2003 to support refugees and asylum seekers arriving in Kent, England. In 2007, it changed its focus to supporting unaccompanied refugee children under 18 years of age seeking asylum. 1 These refugees typically illegally arrive on the Kent coast after crossing the English Channel in small boats and dinghies. 3

    KRAN initially offered mentoring and education, then added an outreach project in 2011; advocacy and support services in 2016; sports, activity, and youth engagement programs in 2018; 1 and a women’s group for refugees aged 16 to 24. 4

    Work Areas

    Kent Refugee Action Network has a location in Canterbury and one in Folkestone. From these centers, it runs classes and other services. 5

    The Learning for Life program offers classes on English as a second language and life skills to prepare refugee youth for jobs or college. 6

    The Advocacy and Support program provides mentoring, asylum casework support, youth activities such as football, drama, art sessions, and summer trips, and youth engagement. It provides referrals for legal aid on immigration and asylum. It advocates for the refugee youth and for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, campaigning to parliament for legislation in support of these groups. 7

    Advocacy

    The UK Government has sought stop Channel crossings by asylum seekers, which is the most common route into the UK. Kent Refugee Action Network petitions for safe routes into the country for these illegal refugees and for a “more secure and lawful process for seeking asylum.” 8

    In 2021, KRAN participated in the Act for Change Together Festival, a one-week online event for youth activists and those who support them sharing information on how to be successful at youth-led activism. The event was organized by Act for Change Together, a group of young activists from 32 organizations, including KRAN, and funded by the Act for Change Fund. Additional supporters of the event were the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, 9 one of England’s largest independent foundations which supports left-wing ideology for social change and equality, especially for young people. 10

    In a 2023 BBC article, KRAN has stated that the legislative landscape regarding refugees is changing and KRAN continues to monitor and adjust their advocacy and services accordingly. 11 The Illegal Migration Bill was passed in July 2023 making Channel entry into the UK illegal. The Bill states that illegal entries will be detained and removed, and that the government will define safe and legal routes into the country. 12 KRAN continues to provide services to those crossing the English Channel and arriving in Kent County. However, those refugees are held in “legal limbo” as the government will not grant asylum to illegal migrants. 13

    Financials

    Kent Refugee Action Network is a registered charity in the United Kingdom. Its financial report to the Charity Commission for England and Wales showed total income of $927,530 and $807,547 in expenses for the financial year ending March 31, 2023. 14

    Donations to KRAN are processed by Charities Aid Foundation, 15 a nonprofit organization in London that provides financial and administrative services to other charities, acting as an intermediary. 16

    Leadership

    Razia Shariff became Kent Refugee Action Network’s first CEO in 2016. She obtained a Ph.D. in politics in 2020 from Canterbury Christ Church University with a focus on social movements. She has been involved in social and civic organizations throughout her career, including the National Community Forum, the London Civic Forum, and High Trees Community Development Trust. She has also a non-executive director of Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust and advisory board member of Refugee Action Insight Hub. 17

    Tony Fisher joined KRAN as deputy CEO in 2022. Previously he held several positions at British Council, 18 a registered charity that works with governments and individuals of other countries representing the United Kingdom and teaching English, arts, and culture to young people. 19

    Jos Kerkvliet joined as the chair of the trustees in 2016. 20 He has a clinical psychologist and was previously an assistant director of the NHS,21 England’s government-administered National Health Service. 22

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    References

    1. Kent Refugee Action Network Strategic Plan 2020-2025. Overview. Accessed March 21, 2024. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/605b2fdcf17cce401b548999/t/61d84627e83ee176dfc173f5/1641563691802/KRAN-strategic-plan+%281%29.pdf. Link from https://kran.org.uk/who-are-we
    2.  “Our Story.” KRAN. Accessed March 23, 2024. https://kran.org.uk/who-are-we
    3. Diane Taylor. “‘Performative cruelty’: UK treatment of refugees worst ever, says charity.” The Guardian. November 22, 2021. Accessed March 23, 2024. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/22/performative-cruelty-uk-treatment-refugees-worst-ever-charity-kent-boats
    4. “Services.” KRAN. Accessed March 23, 2024. https://kran.org.uk/services
    5. Vicky Castle. “’They are my saviours’ Inside Kent Refugee Action Network.” KentLive. October 13, 2019. Accessed March 23, 2024. https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/they-saviours-inside-kent-refugee-3411851
    6. “Learning for Life.” KRAN – Services. Accessed March 23, 2024. https://kran.org.uk/services
    7. “Services Offered.” KRAN. Accessed March 23, 2024. https://kran.org.uk/services
    8. [1] Hedi Mehrez. “Kent charities and refugees renew calls for safe routes after Rwanda plan ruled ‘unlawful’.” KentLive. November 16, 2023. Accessed March 23, 2024. https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/kent-charities-refugees-renew-calls-8909430
    9. “About.” Act for Change Festival. Accessed March 21, 2024. https://actforchangetogether.org.uk/about/
    10. “About PHF.” Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Accessed March 21, 2024. https://www.phf.org.uk/about-phf/
    11. Christian Fuller and Sara Smith. “Refugee charity celebrates 20th anniversary.” BBC. April 26, 2023. Accessed March 23, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7205wp7yvyo
    12. “Illegal Migration Bill: overarching factsheet.” Gov.UK. July 20, 2023. Accessed March 23, 2024. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/illegal-migration-bill-factsheets/illegal-migration-bill-overarching-factsheet
    13. “Chanel Tragedy Statement.” KRAN – Latest Stories. February 29, 2024. Accessed March 23, 2024. https://kran.org.uk/lateststories/channel-tragedy-statement?fbclid=IwAR1w515AwcQzor8bZ-RYctwEhTbSpuPREWXuK4W7TtHkX-Ku_KbtAzifo88
    14. “Kent Refugee Action Network.” Charity Commission for England and Wales – Charity Overview. Accessed March 21, 2024. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/3991668/charity-overview
    15. “Kent Refugee Action Network.” CAF Donate. Accessed March 21, 2024. https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/18646#!/DonationDetails
    16. “About Us.” CAF Charities Aid Foundation. Accessed March 21, 2024. https://www.cafonline.org/about-us
    17. LinkedIn – Razia Shariff. Accessed March 23, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/razia-shariff-62b82429/
    18. LinkedIn – Tony Fisher. Accessed March 23, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-fisher-11aaa610/
    19. “About Us.” British Council. Accessed March 23, 2024. https://www.britishcouncil.org/about-us
    20. “Trustees.” “Kent Refugee Action Network.” Charity Commission for England and Wales – Charity Overview. Accessed March 21, 2024. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/3991668/trustees
    21. “Our Trustees.” KRAN – About. Accessed March 23, 2024. https://kran.org.uk/meet-the-team
    22. “National Health Service.” Britannica. Accessed March 23, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/topic/National-Health-Service