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.

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News:

Home Office bids to restrict jobs for asylum seekers
Home Office ministers are trying to thwart the impact of a supreme court ruling lifting a work ban on 45,000 asylum seekers by severely restricting the jobs they can apply for.
The Guardian, 29 July 2010

Fast-track deportations from UK 'unlawful'
The fast-track deportation of foreign nationals refused permission to remain in the UK has been declared unlawful by the High Court.
BBC News, 26 July 2010

Immigrants should not be in jail, says prisons watchdog
In an interview with The Independent, Dame Anne Owers, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, says that too many asylum seekers and illegal immigrants are being locked up in detention centres. In the same week, her inspection report of Brook House Immigration Removal Centre condemns it as 'fundamentally unsafe'. (Full text of inspection report available here.)
Independent, 14 July 2010


Food collection for destitute asylum seekers - donations welcome
From 11 - 25 September Asylum Welcome will be collecting food donations at the Headington Co-op on London Road. Look out for our box and notice board inside the store. All donations will be gratefully received and will be distributed to asylum seekers in Oxford via the Asylum Welcome Food Project. At other times donations can be delivered to the Asylum Welcome office.

Take Action:

Let Them Work is a joint campaign calling on the government to let asylum seekers work. Currently asylum seekers are prevented from working and forced to rely on benefits or face destitution. Find out more and sign the pledge here.


Wanted: volunteers to visit Campsfield House detainees (must be willing to commit to visiting regularly for a minimum of a year) and a new membership secretary to recruit new members for Asylum Welcome and work with existing members (possibly also produce a monthly newsletter). Interested, please contact Maira, Volunteer Coordinator.

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

“As an asylum seeker here you have no identity; you are always waiting. I want to be recognised as belonging; to be able to make my contribution.”Najaf, asylum seeker from Afghanistan