Asylum Welcome supports refugees, asylum seekers and immigration detainees in Oxford and Oxfordshire.

Our volunteers, members, supporters and staff share values based on a common humanity and social justice. Together, we work to reduce poverty, suffering and social isolation, and to enable asylum seekers and refugees to live with the respect and dignity to which they are entitled.

Asylum Monologues is warmly received in Oxford

The Asylum Monologues, performed at Magdalen College on March 1 in association with Asylum Welcome, was well received by a large and enthusiastic audience of students and the general public and received glowing reviews in the Oxonian Review and Oxford Theatre Review.

The Asylum Monologues, an iceandfire production, scripted by Sonja Linden, presents the personal testimonies of asylum seekers in the UK.

'You know before the war in my country, I was not even thinking about coming here.  I was happy, I was with my family, everything was OK.  Why should I want to go? But things happen.'

iceandfire explores human rights stories through performance. Asylum Monologues is performed by iceandfire's outreach project. Actors for Human Rights, a network of more than 500 professional actors dedicated to drawing attention to contemporary human rights concerns; http://iceandfire.co.uk/.

Asylum Welcome Seasonal Appeal

Thank you for all of your support for this year's Seasonal Appeal.  With government cuts, this year’s appeal was more important than ever.  By giving as generously as you can together we can make the lives of asylum seekers a little easier, not only during the holidays but in 2012 and beyond.

Asylum Welcome statement on government cuts

Public sector cuts being introduced by the coalition government are having an overwhelmingly negative impact on services for refugees and asylum seekers in Oxfordshire. On 9 May Asylum Welcome issued a statement on the impacts of these cuts on our clients and others. Click here to read the full statement.

Asylum Welcome has moved

Our new address is Unit 7, Newtec Place, Magdalen Road, Oxford, OX4 1RE. (Click here for a map). Telephone numbers are still the same. You are welcome to visit us at our new address.

Take Action:

Stop 60% cuts to refugee advice and support services
The Refugee Council needs your help urgently to stop cuts to vital services in the UK. The government plans to cut funding to the Refugee Council by 60% from 1 April and to cut all funding from September. Find out how you can help.

News:

Fears of upheaval as firm facing probe over asylum seeker's death wins housing deal

G4S among companies that will provide accommodation for people claiming refuge in Britain.

More young migrants face destitution, Children's Society says

More must be done by government to help prevent young refugees and asylum seekers from falling into destitution, warns the Children's Society.

£2m paid out over child asylum seekers illegally detained as adults

Legal case involved 40 youngsters who were locked up in adult units under Home Office policy deemed to be unlawful.

Child trafficking victims back to France within hours of arrival in UK

Children's commissioner discovers trafficked minors were sent straight back under 'gentleman's agreement' with France.

Child asylum seekers win compensation for 13-month detention

Four children who were incarcerated in detention centres for 13 months – the longest time children have ever been locked up in the UK – have won a six-figure compensation payout from the Home Office more than eight years after their release.

Child detention: has the government broken its promise to end it?

After promising last year to end child detention in failed asylum cases – and closing the notorious Yarl's Wood unit – the government opened a smart new centre for deportees. But isn't this still detention?

Asylum seekers prevented from lodging cases

Law Society claims Asylum Screening Unit are preventing claimants lodging claims unless lawyers threaten legal action.

Volunteer publishes article based on a discussion held at Asylum Welcome

Asylum Welcome volunteer, James Souter, publishes an article on the ethics of lying in the asylum system.

Volunteers Needed

Volunteers needed for community cooking club Wednesdays from 1:00 - 3:30 and for the Venda Youth Club.  Ideal for someone to meet our clients, chat and make friends on an informal basis.  Very enjoyable project!

Volunteers (preferably with teaching background) for one-to-one teaching and other projects.

 

Urgently needed: cooking oil, sugar, UHT milk, tea, coffee, toothpaste, disposable razors and more for our Food Cupboard for destitute clients.

 

Asylum Welcome is a registered charity, no 1092265, and a company limited by guarantee, no 4361627.