A documentary produced by Tom Harmer of Faith and Bones Productions in which three Bradford residents, a former train driver, a primary school teacher and a former refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo each give radically simply solutions to the asylum crisis through compassion and small acts of local kindness. Title: A Faith and Bones Productions In 2023, the global number of forcibly displaced people passed 100 million for the first time. The UN refugee agency described it...

A documentary produced by Tom Harmer of Faith and Bones Productions in which three Bradford residents, a former train driver, a primary school teacher and a former refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo each give radically simply solutions to the asylum crisis through compassion and small acts of local kindness. Title: A Faith and Bones Productions In 2023, the global number of forcibly displaced people passed 100 million for the first time. The UN refugee agency described it as a “staggering milestone.” Each one of these people are now seeking sanctuary, a place of safety to call home and a community to belong to Inside his static caravan Mick, a retired train driver and Bradford resident, comes to sit at his table with a glass of water. As he talks about how he and his two siblings came to live in the city a montage of both still and archival moving images of the area in the 1950s and 60 when South Asian families began to move to the area. Archive of a National Front march taking place in the city during the 1970s with Mick attempting to explains what Bradford was like with its lack of diversity. As he comes out of his caravan a look over a wall on Bradford below, he talks about how it is human nature for human being to fear something that is not familiar. Back inside the caravan Mick talks about people coming across in small boats and becomes emotional when looking at a photograph taken from The Independent newspaper of a drowned Syrian child on a Turkey beach. He explains it is because of things like this that he started volunteering for Refugee Action. An aerial over Braford with a heavy mist or fog covering many of the houses and buildings in the valleys. Title: Bradford, England One of the top four locations within the UK that refugees and asylum seekers are resettled As the mist clears the opening title. Title: The Sanctuary Seekers of Bradford Asumani, a refugee from the Congo who is now a British Citizen, helps his two daughters get ready for school. After driving them there and dropping them of he talks about the importance of them attending a diverse school as he makes his way to work. As he continues to drive through Bradford, he talks about his own refugee journey leaving the Congo because of a brutal civil war and spending eighteen years living at the Nyarugusu Refugee Camp in Tanzania before arriving in the United Kingdom through a resettlement scheme. A mixture of still and moving image are used to help illustrate his story including that of the refugee camp which he describes as like living in a cage. Asumani arrives at the Unitarian Church on Russell Street. Sitting in her car Hamida, a Primary school attendance officer and volunteer, speaks with a colleague on her mobile phone as she is lost. Title: For seven years Hamida has independently supported refugees and asylum seekers. Her WhatsApp group ‘Families in Need’ facilitate donations of food, furniture and toys Arriving at her destination she collections donation bags placing them in her car. As she drives through the city she talks about how giving and generous the people of Bradford are. She goes onto explain why she volunteers and believes the refugees and asylum seekers she meets are genuine and honest people who have nothing else to lose. Arriving home she unloads the car. Title: Most weekends and often weekdays evenings, Hamida supports refugee and asylum families across the city Following an aerial of Bradford at dawn Syrian refugee Bilal makes his way through the city towards Centenary Square carrying a bag of bird seed. Outside Bradford City Hall he feeds the pigeons gathered there and talks about the challenges of being a refugee and learning a new language. He explains why feeding birds helps him stating that he once had three-hundred birds back in Syria. Title: In 2018, Asumani, started a charity to support fellow African refugees using his own lived experience As Asumani gets out of his car making his way towards the Quaker Meeting House next to the Unitarian Church he explains in voiceover about the work of the charity he formed to help integrate refugees from African integrate into British Society. Title: This charity, Bradford African Community now helps hundreds of individuals every years Inside the meeting house Asumani turns on the lights and explains how the hall is helping hold a number of activities. Over a montage of people taking part in said activities, Asumani provides details on the English classes, sowing and hair dressing academies, internet access and homework clubs for children the charity runs which he sees as transforming and empowering those taking part to become productive members of British society. Mick arrives at Refugee Action Bradford and inside speaks with Christy from Experts by Experience Co-Ordinator for Refugee Action Bradford about some tasks she has for him to do. After loading his car with toys, he drives off and arrives at the Quaker Meeting House and Bradford African Community where he his met by Asumani. With the help of two girls’ boxes of Christmas presents are unloaded after which Mick leaves driving into the city centre to collect four mobile telephones from Solidaritech. Title: Solidaritech is a Community Internet Company that exists solely to help Refugees and Asylum Seekers get access to technology Climbing the stairs to their office Mick looks around at the various pieces of tech being worked on by technicians. Ben the Chief Executive of Solidaritech CIC explains to Mick what most of the refugees use the phones they provide for. With the four mobile telephones he needed in hand Mick leaves. Title: Refurbished tech donated from business and individuals enables migrants to pursue studies, start businesses, migrate qualifications and maintain contact Leaving Solidaritech Mick gets into his car and as he drives through the city talking about why the phones he is delivering are important. Still in Centenary Square Bilal speaks with Hamida who is driving through the city, the arrange to meet up later for dinner. Bilal explains why he considers her his ‘second mum.’ An aerial of the Quaker Meeting House changes to Clive, a Trustee of Bradford African Community, speaking with three asylum seekers with the help of an interpreter about their experience of coming to Britain and how the charity can help establish them successfully. Clive listens empathically to stories of trauma and is positive in being able to offer help and support to improve their English. Over a montage of people in English classes or participating in some of the other activities put on by the charity, Clive explains that Bradford African Community is here not only to help and support those in crisis, but to provide steps to get into work, volunteering and become a British citizen. Mick arrives at the Millside Centre and joins a class of male and female refugees in relieving stress being run by trainer Nick. Title: Weekly Wellbeing Group, Refuge Action Nick shows the group, many of whom have experiences trauma on their journey to Britain, exercises which will release tension in their bodies. Title: Research shows that trauma we experience is held within our bodies The Wellness group helps individuals on various levels; learning English, building community and calming the mind The exercise over the group talks about what they have done and learned from the experience and that mindfulness is where we feel what is happening in the body. At home Hamida looks through her mobile phone while talking in voiceover about how she met Bilal and his family. Bilal arrives at Hamida’s house and the two work together in the kitchen preparing a meal which they enjoy together in the living room. As the two walk into town they enjoy drinks at the MyLahore British Asian Kitchen as Hamida talks about how their friendship has grown and what she has learned from him describing Bilal as the kindest and most generous of persons. As they sit together in her garden, she explains why friendship is of value to her as it makes people like Bilal feel safe in the knowledge that there will always be someone there to help. An aerial of Bradford’s terraced streets changes to Mick sitting at a table enjoying a game of Battleships with a young boy. As his mother comes in with a cup of tea, Mick talks about feeling sad hearing many of refugee stories and has through his volunteering become friends with several families At home Asumani sits at a table working on a laptop computer. Title: Alongside family and charity commitments, Asumani is studying for a degree in International Relations with Global Development As he continues to work, he talks about how he survived because of humanity and about the help of organisations such as the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). Over a photograph of him and his family he talks about wanting to understand the worlds many challenges and work towards finding solutions to these issues as well as learn more about the broader context surrounding the Congolese crisis which made him a refugee. As Bilal feeds more birds near an old cotton mill, he talks about how once his country Syria use to help others, but how he felt abandoned by the world when he became a immigrant. He talks about his experience being a refugee and the positive experience of working with Hamida. As he speaks, he and Hamida bring food to a homeless man in Bradford city centre. To show how he feels when he works with Hamida, he shows a heart on his mobile phone. As he walks along a road smiling, he explains how he is always trying to be good. As Asumani stands looking over Bradford below he explains that the real Bradford is a place where everyone can live and strive. As he explains how he came with nothing and now runs a community centre, he and other users of Bradford African Community chatting and laughing together. A montage featuring Mick helping out in an English class and others laughing and smiling while participating in classes or activities and Asumani suggestion people come and experience a way of life in Bradford. With the help of a walking stick Mick makes his way along a hillside track. Over a montage of photographs featuring him as a younger man he talks in voiceover about how it wasn’t until later in life that he learned he liked people. Over a montage of him helping and laughing with various refugees he explains all he wants to do is make people feel better and happy. At the end of his walk, aerials of him standing looking out across the Bradford skyline. Title: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” United Nations, Charter, 1965 Credit: A film by Tom Harmer Produced by Tom Harmer and Harold Salakianathan Directed and Edited by Tom Harmer Cinematography Tom Harmer Original Music Callum Harvie and Josh Cana Colourist Lucas Roache Sound Editor Luke Collins Title: Archive sources Yorkshire and North East Film Archives, European Space Agency , ID 219901, nickhedgesphotography.co.uk, Griff Tapper @grifftapper, Phil Hatch-Moore philmoore.info, watermission.org Special thanks to Bradford African Community, Refugee Action Bradford, The Millside Centre, Solidaritech, Mylahore, Zahra Niazi, Barry Cussack, Christy Bishoff, Wahid Rashid, Natalie Harmer Starting Bilal Albalbise, Asumani Sosho, Hamida Khan, Michael Ward Appearances Ahmed Abakelow, Maryam Abdulla, Nawal Abdullahi, Katra Abdullahi, Naseebullah Achakzai, Amina Albadien, Alnasim Ali, Deeqa Ali, Mariam Ali, Ako Ali Mohammed, Huda Ali Mohammed, Alaa Alib, Bahati Alphonsine, Kashindi Amadi, Sifa Asumani, Safi Asumani, Susho Asumani, Omari Asumani, Boskhomdzha Bambusheva, Vic Berry, Seynabou Biagui, Lisa Brook, Marina Burger, Bert Erasmus Burger, Sally Clark, Agathe Djedje, Rose Djedje, Nick Edwards, Hiba Elsiddy Amiena Flidan, Hanae Gemal, Farhiyo Hassain, Nargis Hussain, Jesilda Imariya Iruhayarasa, Victor Iruthayarasa, Eslam Juba, Vulmila Kakumulanga-Martha, Beatrice, Kashindi, Malipo Kashindi, Niabella Khan, Thoma Kodi, Rashia Lartif, Nick Mageolles, Abdul Majeed, Mwajuma Mashaka, Ben McKenna, Melat Melaku, Juliet Moqezi, Mushishi Muhoza, Maryan Muktar, Aran Muse Ali, Berthe Myamuviza, Anna Narukundo, Shazia Naseeruddin, Bertha Nyamutina, Berthe Nyamwiza, Queen Esther Osakwe, Jenny-Beth Osakwe, Jenika Osakwe, Bako Rashidi, Bilal Rashidi, Musa Sankareh, Veronica Scott, Jonathan Shortt, Florence Sikujua, Hardi Tarkhani, Huafang Weng, Clive Whittaker, Alexanders Zubaida Filmed on location in Bradford, West Yorkshire End title: © Faith and Bones Ltds. All Rights Reserved.