Stronger Together Community Stories

Hi Lubna, can you tell us a bit more about Migrant Advocacy Service (MAS) and what you hope to achieve?

MAS aims to reduce the inequalities experienced by migrants living within our borough, including those living under immigration control. Around 70% of our clients are women. More recently, we have supported the integration of around 300 newly arrived Ukrainians, as well as Afghans and 100s of Hong Kongers entering the UK on planned migration routes. At our Welcome Cafe, we assist upwards of 70 people per week. We also do community outreach at Kingsnympton Park and we run the very popular Surbiton Community Fridge.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how or why you chose to set up MAS?

Advocating for the rights of women from the Middle East is something very close to my heart. Everything I have achieved has been through fighting - fighting to go to school and university, to go to work, to buy a house, to become independent. I was fortunate in many ways to have come to the UK where I have these rights, but my sisters, aunts and cousins didn’t have this right, and I wanted to speak up for those who couldn’t do so themselves. I suppose this is why in 2016, our organisation (then operating as Independent Yemen Group) became co-chairs of Girls Not Brides (UK).

Alongside IKWRO, FORWARD, and Karma Nirvana, we successfully campaigned to close a loophole in the law to outlaw all forms of marriage under the age of 18, without exceptions for parental consent, informal/religious marriages, or extra-territorial marriages involving a British citizen or resident. This was enacted in Parliament through the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022.

What advice would you give someone else who wants to get involved in the local community?

Volunteering is such a good way of meeting new people, channelling your energies, and having fun, and there are so many great groups that you can join. But, if you have a passion for something that you believe in, don’t be afraid to follow your passion and start something new. Try to keep it simple and remember that you may make mistakes along the way, but there is a lot of guidance material online and fantastic organisations like Kingston Voluntary Action who are there to help you find your way and steer you in the right direction.

What is your most memorable moment with MAS?

A memorable moment was in our early days when a simple enquiry from a client around adult education classes led us to learn of the financial abuse and coercive control that a client had endured for nearly two decades. She was not allowed to work and received no money or any of her children's child benefits. Additionally, her husband denied access to her passport, which meant she could never provide proof of her identity to sign up for classes or activities where this was required.

My team helped her escape from this abusive situation and ensured she regained possession of her passport, secured custody of her child, and received the benefits she was entitled to.

What are your hopes for the future of MAS and its role in the local community?

My hope is that MAS continues to evolve and deliver a service that supports diverse communities to meet the needs of Kingston’s vulnerable migrant population, leading them to develop and flourish within our diverse borough. We hope that our offer will not be set in stone but instead will be shaped by the needs of the people we serve and the priorities set out by the wider community, including the local authority which has supported us throughout our journey.