In just 48 hours, more than 2,000 people – including Oxfordshire MPs Calum Miller, Olly Glover, and Charlie Maynard, alongside faith leaders, academics, GPs, trade unionists, and community representatives – have added their names to an open letter calling for “unity and compassion in Oxfordshire (and beyond)”. The letter, organised by Asylum Welcome,
Asylum Welcome is deeply saddened by the protests taking place outside the asylum hotel in Oxford today. We are a proud city of sanctuary, where refugees are valued members of our community. People who claim asylum are legally permitted to have their asylum claims heard, and we are morally obligated
🕊 One year after far-right groups threatened our office, our message remains the same: Oxford is a place of welcome. In this update, we reflect on the ongoing challenges asylum seekers face, the urgent support we aim to provide, and how you can help build a city of sanctuary in practice — plus key
We’re looking for a new Treasurer Trustee to help guide the future of Asylum Welcome. Are you a finance leader passionate about social justice? Do you want to support a local charity working with asylum seekers, refugees and vulnerable migrants? If so, we’d love to hear from you. 💡 Can
On Sunday 22nd June, Asylum Welcome volunteers and staff joined a peaceful rally and solidarity walk to protest government plans to reopen Campsfield House, the controversial immigration detention centre near Kidlington. The event, held on the final day of Refugee Week, was organised by the Coalition to Keep Campsfield Closed—a broad alliance of local
On Wednesday 18th June, the Thames Valley Immigration Alliance (TVIA) launched a powerful new report highlighting the experiences of migrant survivors of domestic abuse. Developed by the four organisations that make up TVIA – Asylum Welcome, Settled, Refugee Support Group Berkshire, and Slough Refugee Support – the report aims to strengthen support for migrant
🤝 This World Refugee Day, we’re celebrating the volunteers, donors and supporters who make Asylum Welcome a place of safety and solidarity. From helping children settle into school, to supporting new refugees through daunting paperwork, to offering a listening ear at our Welcome Desk — meet some of the people turning sanctuary into reality
🧡 Refugee Week returns from 16th–22nd June, celebrating the creativity, resilience and contributions of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. This year’s theme is "community as a superpower" — and there’s a packed programme of free events, including the Oxford Sanctuary Fair on Tuesday 17th June at Oxford Town Hall. Read on for the highlights.
👋 As he retires after five years as Director, Mark Goldring reflects on Asylum Welcome’s journey — from keeping services open during Covid to supporting Afghans, Ukrainians, and the 500+ asylum seekers currently in Oxfordshire. He shares why he’s chosen to leave a legacy gift in his Will and invites others to consider doing
What the New White Paper Gets Wrong This week, the UK government published a new White Paper on immigration. It promises a “radical crackdown” on migration — with new rules to make it harder for people to come to the UK on work, student, or family visas, and more difficult to settle long
