On Thursday 10 September, clients, former clients, volunteers, staff, trustees, friends and supporters came together to celebrate a very special milestone: 30 years of Asylum Welcome.

It was an opportunity to look back at how far we have come, to celebrate the extraordinary community of people who have shaped Asylum Welcome over three decades.

The evening began with evocative Kurdish singing and drumming from Yazidi singer Rana, before our Joint CEOs, Hari and Sarah, reflected on Asylum Welcome’s past, present and future, and thanked the many people whose time, generosity and commitment have made our work possible.

We also premiered our new Asylum Welcome film, generously made for us pro bono by the wonderful Tim Hand, bringing together the voices of clients, volunteers and staff to show what welcome means in practice today.

30 years, told by the people who were there

At the heart of the evening was our “Human Timeline”, inviting people who have been part of Asylum Welcome’s story to tell it themselves — through short memories of moments they remembered.

Before beginning the timeline, we were also delighted to acknowledge two people in the room with particularly important places in that history: Diana Tickell, one of Asylum Welcome’s founders, whose involvement goes back to Refugees in Oxford in 1991; and Alasdair MacKenzie KC, who was involved in the campaign against Campsfield detention centre from its earliest days in 1993.

From there, contributors took the audience through three decades of memories. A recent client shared his powerful story of fleeing Afghanistan and the struggle to reunite with his family. A volunteer remembered welcoming Syrian families to Oxford and seeing friendships and a new community begin to form, while a former Youth Service Coordinator reflected on supporting young people separated from family members and the life-changing impact of family reunion, which is currently suspended.

One particularly moving contribution came from a former client who first came to Asylum Welcome around 25 years ago.

He spoke about his memories of that time and about the journey his life has taken since. Hearing him speak was a powerful reminder of something easily lost in anniversaries and statistics: Asylum Welcome’s history is ultimately made up of individual lives, relationships and acts of welcome.

The experiences shared during the evening also reminded us how much the world around Asylum Welcome has changed — and how the organisation has continued to adapt and respond as the needs of refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants in Oxfordshire have changed too.

A community built over 30 years

The evening was above all an opportunity to say thank you.

We paid special tribute to Janet Stewart, who ran Asylum Welcome’s Food Bank as a volunteer for six years, and to the brilliant team of volunteers who worked alongside her.

We also thanked our outgoing trustees Val Johnson, Clare Miller, Alison Baxter and Tony Samuel, recognising the time, care and expertise they have given to Asylum Welcome.

After the formal AGM, the celebrations continued with delicious food from Integrate Community CIC and pastries donated by Hamblin Bread.

And, of course, no 30th birthday would have been complete without a fabulous cake — made for us by volunteers Tommy and Betty!

Looking forward

Thirty years is a moment to celebrate. But it is also a moment to ask what comes next.

Asylum Welcome has changed enormously since 1996. The political landscape has changed. The circumstances facing people seeking safety have changed, while the hostile environment has become increasingly entrenched. The services we provide have grown and developed in response.

What has not changed is the fundamental importance of welcome and solidarity.

As we begin our fourth decade, we will continue to stand alongside refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants in Oxfordshire: providing practical support, advice and advocacy, listening to the people we work with, and speaking up for a fairer and more welcoming society.

To everyone who joined us on Thursday, and to everyone who has been part of Asylum Welcome at any point over the last 30 years: thank you.

If you would like to help us continue this work into our fourth decade, you can support Asylum Welcome here.