Activity 1: 60-90 minutesThe Impact of Asylum Seekers on DoverAimTo find out how the arrival of asylum seekers has affected local people in Dover, Kent.ObjectivesRead through information to find out about the basic events in Dover. Read about the role of two groups in Kent - Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN) and the police.Form a judgement about their actions.Consider the two groups from different perspectives.Discuss the role of the two groups.ResourcesActivity Sheet 1.1, Kent and Dover: Background InformationActivity Sheet 1.2, Activity Sheet 1.3, Activity Sheet 1.4, Activity Sheet 1.5, Activity Sheet 1.6, Activity Sheet 1.7, two interviews with questionsActivity Sheet 1.8, role-play cardsActivity Sheet 1.9, homeworkTasks1. Read through the background on Activity Sheet 1.12. Read through the interviewsThe straightforward approach is simply to give out both the interviews to each student and ask them to work through the questions.Alternatively, give some students the KRAN interview and others the police interview to work on. Ask them to share their answers.A further variation is for students to work through the interviews in the same way as they analysed the text in Activity 1 of the Core Lessons (Activity Sheet 1.2), producing a summary which they could then write into speech bubbles for the two Kent groups. The class could be split and the summary made into a competition.3. Discuss the key pointsThe questions on Activity Sheets 1.2 - 1.7 will provide a structure for feedback.Alternatively, you could give out the role-play cards from Activity Sheet 1.8 and encourage students to think about the situation in Dover from different people's viewpoints.Try to avoid an over-simplistic definition of people as good/bad. Discussion PointsWhat are some of the concerns of those local people who do not welcome asylum seekers?Why do you think they have responded like this?What could public services have done to help in this situation?How would you feel if an asylum seeker was rude to you? How would you feel about other asylum seekers you might meet afterwards?How do you think asylum seekers might feel towards the local area?How would they feel towards local people if they have already had some sort of conflict with others elsewhere?ExtensionBuild on the interview with Mark Pugash in order to hold a debate on the limits on freedom of speech.DifferentiationSplit the interviews into smaller sections so that each group can work on a focused task for a particular section.HomeworkWrite down one action that each of the characters on the role-play cards could take to improve the situation.National Curriculum Focus1 (a) Individual responsibilities1(b) diversity and the need for mutual understanding,1(f) the work of voluntary groups1(g) resolving conflict fairly2(a) Analysing information, 2(b and c) justify an opinion and debate3(a) Consider others' opinionsKey skills: communication