The protest, labelled #EvictTheBailiffs has been set up by the Focus E15 campaign, which was originally set up by young mothers who were given eviction notices from their East London flats due to a lack of local council funding.
Bring rubbish to awards tonight! Turn the tables #EvictTheBailiffs https://t.co/pgqHa4vNUm pic.twitter.com/4Jwi5xsD7b
— FocusE15 (@FocusE15) February 11, 2015
The group says that it aims to draw attention to the £4,000 per table event, raise awareness to the social inequality in London and let people know that some of those attending the credit awards will be celebrated and “receiving awards for making families homeless.”
“Since companies like ‘The Sherriff’s Office’ receive nominations by throwing people and their belongings out onto the cold streets of London, we intend to turn the front entrance of the Brewery into a mock eviction site for attendees to experience before an evening of champagne, three-course dinners, and the kudos of their peers,” a statement on the group’s Facebook page read.
'Neighbours claim people were 'dragged' from homes during eviction' #Eviction #Barnet #EvictTheBailiffs @FocusE15 http://t.co/qLB242Hry5
— Occupy London (@OccupyLondon) February 11, 2015
To add to the protest, people are encouraged to bring rubbish and broken belongings to the site of the awards, while a number of people who have previously been evicted from their homes will share their stories.
This was #SweetsWay in Barnett yesterday. Folks like those who did this are up for awards tonight! #EvictTheBailiffs pic.twitter.com/Cl1F8BtyT8
— Liam Barrington-Bush (@hackofalltrades) February 11, 2015
Former school teacher Nazrah Ismail is among those set to speak, after she and her family were evicted by bailiffs just week before Christmas.
“I was violently and unexpectedly evicted with my three kids and disabled husband by officers from The Sheriff's Office. We were not informed in advance before they appeared at dawn ordering us to get out. We were left in the street homeless and frightened by this traumatic experience."
"It is infuriating that the company has been nominated for an award. I am concerned and outraged that they will continue to put other families through the kinds of grief we have experienced.”
“if social rent continues to move towards market rent, at least 1.3 million more people will be pushed into poverty by 2040” #HME2015
— Dawn Foster (@DawnHFoster) February 11, 2015
Meanwhile, Samantha Middleton, one of the original mums that founded the Focus E15 campaign, said more needs to be done to support people in financial trouble, rather than evicting them.
“We’ve helped stop lots of bailiff evictions around Newham (East London) and have seen from those who’ve been through them how awful they are. It’s appalling that these companies are getting awards at all, and attending events at a price-per-table that could keep a family housed for many months. These companies are the hired soldiers of social cleansing.”
The protest follows a similar demonstration from cleaners of London’s Royal Opera House, who took part in a “noise protest” outside the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) on Sunday night, with the low-paid cleaners calling for an increase to their wages.
