Refugee Action

What silly ideas are grabbing headlines today. Does this sound like a country that will stand for mass deportations, scrapping human rights and abandoning fellow human beings fleeing war and violence?

How have we reached a point where headlines about “anti-migrant activists” are everywhere? When the language of “protest” or “activist” is used it ushers in the belief that people's humanity is up for debate. It’s time to call these activities what they are.

We came to Number 10 with a housewarming gift - 8,450+ names calling for an asylum system built on welcome, fairness and dignity. And we brought the key to a better asylum system with us! Seemore in our blog: https://www.refugee-action.org.uk/in-westminster-our-housewarming-card-to-andy-burnham/

What we saw this weekend cannot become the norm. People seeking asylum were targeted, as racist violence and intimidation escalated. We’ve joined more than 150 organisations calling on the government to act urgently and take concrete steps to stop it.

To refugees: you are welcome here. We stand with you. Your safety matters. People wearing masks, marching through our streets and stoking fear, are unacceptable. It’s more than “thuggery”. It’s racism, walking boldly through our communities. And it's emboldened by political rhetoric.

This month, PayPal is making it easy to stand with refugees and support our work when you shop online! Set us as your favourite charity, then click to donate £1 each time you check out with PayPal.

Together, you’ve raised over £33,212.92 so far for people seeking safety in the UK via our BBC Radio 4 Appeal! 💚 Thank you to everyone who tuned in, donated and shared. Because of you, more people seeking safety can access the support they need to rebuild their lives.

75 years ago, countries promised to protect people fleeing persecution. Today, the government's Immigration and Asylum Bill risks weakening that promise by making protection more temporary and refugees' futures more uncertain. The Refugee Convention still matters. We must uphold it.

The housing emergency has created an expensive, poor quality and divisive asylum accommodation system. So 51 organisations have written to Andy Burnham to tell him he already has the answers to housing all people in need. Our letter is on his desk. https://bit.ly/4fRRMHw

It's one of the most common questions about asylum. Refugees don't just need safety. They need family, community and the chance to rebuild their lives. International law doesn't require people to seek asylum in the first safe country they reach. History shapes journeys.

Can you imagine fleeing war and persecution, only to have violent mobs attempt to storm the place you live? When politicians scapegoat migrants and refugees, it doesn't just stay in Westminster. This is the result.

Andy Burnham has promised to "put the care of people at the heart of everything". It's time to prove it. No one risks a dangerous journey unless the alternative is worse. Ahmed sought safety in the UK. More than a year later, he's still waiting in an asylum hotel.

"As people who have rebuilt our lives here after fleeing conflict and persecution, we ask you to show the compassionate leadership we know you are capable of. " - Please sign our housewarming card to the new Prime Minister! @rasvoice.bsky.social act.refugee-action.org.uk/page/195459/...

"I feel no different from someone in an open prison." Chuma describes life in the UK's asylum system, where people are often banned from working while they wait for a decision, living in inhumane conditions.

As Britain prepares for a new PM, Andy Burnham, Tamirat A. Tsega of RAS Voice has a clear message: listen to people with lived experience of the asylum system. Safety. Dignity. The right to work. The chance to rebuild. Read his appeal to the next PM: https://bit.ly/4gEhUX5

MPs warned the Immigration and Asylum Bill is "unsafe and unworkable" and challenged the rise of far-right politics. The answer to the far right isn't to copy its politics. Scrap the bill.

We don't need more political theatre or scapegoating refugees. We need leaders focused on homes, public services, human rights and bringing communities together. With Nigel Farage stepping down and a new PM expected, Britain has a chance to choose a different path.

A warm welcome makes a world of difference. Let's build communities that look like this.

Football is a migration story. Some of the world's biggest football stars wouldn't be here without safety, asylum or the chance to rebuild their lives. Behind every migration journey is a person with talent, dreams and potential.

In the final days of Keir Starmer’s leadership, his government is trying to force through yet another cruel and divisive asylum law. It won't stop Channel crossings or fix the broken asylum system. The new Prime Minister must scrap this bill as a first port of call.

Pride is about the right to live openly and safely. Many LGBTQ+ people seeking asylum are often expected to provide evidence of their identity when claiming asylum. The very evidence they're asked for may be evidence they could never safely create. We stand with LGBTQ+ people seeking safety.🌈

People seeking safety need homes, not military camps. Replacing hotels with barracks doesn't fix the asylum system. It simply swaps one unsuitable accommodation for another. We need homes where people can rebuild their lives, not more segregation. Read our solution here: https://bit.ly/4vvdhmG

We asked comedians at Stand Up For Refugees 2026: 🎤 "What's the worst advice you've ever heard?" The answers were exactly as chaotic as you'd hope. Watch below and tell us your worst advice in the replies. Alison Spittle Gbemi Oladipo Josh pugh Milo Edwards Tom Ballard Ollie Horn

Governments come and go. But blaming refugees has never fixed the UK's broken asylum system. The next Prime Minister must choose a different path: safe routes, the right to work, decent housing, and an end to the dehumanising rhetoric that fuels division. People seeking safety deserve better.

“My name is Eduardo, and I work on Refugee Action's fundraising team. But before I was I spent three years in the asylum system. I was told repeatedly that I didn't belong. Then I found Refugee Action's campaigning network. And for the first time in a long time, I felt seen."

☕ A Coffee with Omaira Before moving to the UK, Omaira was a lawyer in Colombia. Today, she works at IRMO, helping others access support and opportunities. Her story is a reminder that behind every migration journey is a person with skills, experience and dreams. Watch below.

This Refugee Week, we asked: "What would you say to someone seeking safety if you wanted to give them hope?" "There are people who care." "Everyone deserves a safe place to call home." "There are many more of us who want you to be safe than there are who want to reject you."

“I’ve spent a lifetime telling powerful stories, but this one is real and it matters.” Listen to Saeed’s story in Refugee Action's BBC Radio 4 Appeal. Please listen, give if you can and share the appeal with your friends and family. Thursday 18 June at 15:27 Donate here: https://bbc.in/49BLA2V

🌈 We're celebrating LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers and their right to live openly, safely and with dignity. Pride is a celebration, but it’s also a protest to defend rights, which is more important than ever right now.

No tragedy should be exploited to justify racist violence. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their home and neighbourhood. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by Monday's horrific stabbing, and with the migrant, refugee and minoritised communities targeted by the subsequent violence in Belfast.

Show your solidarity this Refugee Week and get tickets to our Stand Up For Refugees comedy night! link.dice.fm/standupforrefugees2026 Let’s get together, have a laugh, and build a UK where refugees are welcome.

“At my school, refugees, asylum seekers and children from many countries are made to feel welcome.” Children build friendships across languages and cultures every day. Join our digital wave of hope and share your story: https://bit.ly/4dvqlAC #AMillionActsOfHope

“When the world feels divided, what gives you hope?” The answers we received had something in common: kindness, community, and people showing up for each other. Hope lives in humanity. #AMillionActsOfHope

Last weekend, anti-immigrant voices took to the streets. Today, let’s make hope louder. We’re part of #AMillionActsOfHope, building a digital wave of welcome, solidarity, and community. What gives you hope? What would you say to someone seeking safety? Add your voice: https://bit.ly/4dvqlAC

We stand with refugees always, no matter what.

Local elections are tomorrow 🗳️ If you can vote, make it count. Candidates are knocking on doors. Ask what they stand for. • Will everyone have a safe place to live? • Will people seeking asylum be treated with dignity? • Do you support safe routes? Even one question makes a difference.