Migrant and Asylum Seeker Solidarity and Action

Who we are

MASS Action (which stands for Migrant & Asylum Seeker Solidarity & Action) is a registered UK charity. We support grassroots projects with dignified and sustainable initiatives for migrants and asylum seekers, so they can worry less about fundraising and more on their work on the ground. We believe safe and legal freedom of movement should be for everyone, and through this belief we want to transform how people understand and react to the movement of people.

Mission

To support grassroots projects that provide dignified and sustainable initiatives for migrants and asylum seekers. To increase awareness of the social, economic, political and ecological factors which cause migration and thereby challenge negative public perceptions on the movement of people.

Values

• Equal rights regardless of legal status, nationality, religion, gender, age, sexuality or any other identity marker.

• Honest and dynamic engagement with the communities we work with

• Breaking-down hierarchies that are not just around us but between us

• Financial transparency and efficiency

• Collective action to challenge and overcome violent migration policies and border regimes

History

MASS Action was set up by nine volunteers who all met whilst volunteering at Khora Community Centre in Athens. We felt frustrated by the lack of access to funding for small grassroots initiatives doing impressive work with very little resources. We saw how hard it is to juggle running amazing and impactful projects alongside applying for funding and running social media campaigns. Donors, whether they are individuals making small donations, or big trusts giving out grants, are usually attracted to large scale projects with quantitative results. While we respect this, we also felt there was a huge need to increase funding for projects that focus on social impact through building relationships and communities, where small donations have a big impact. We registered with the UK Charities Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in 2018 and since then have been working on scouting out and building relationships with three projects in Athens.