Dear Friend, My name is Jess Beagent, and I have the enormous privilege of working as the Youth Service Coordinator at Asylum Welcome. I work with 14–25-year-olds who are alone in the UK, far from their parents and families. This year we expect to provide support to more than 3,000 clients. But, as the last
Dear Friends, The articles in this newsletter are linked by a common thread of respect for every individual as a human being, a belief that every person has the right to safety, dignity and opportunity, and that we should do all we can to make this a reality. This is
Dear Friends, Many of you will have seen the news yesterday announcing the government’s plan to reopen Campsfield House as an immigration removal centre. The announcement very much fits with the policy of treating asylum seekers as illegal immigrants that has been provided for in the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 that we all
Dear supporters, Healing in a time of conflict and crisis sounds impossible. But in so many ways it’s a crucial theme for this year’s Refugee Week, which is coming soon from 18-26th June. I’ve seen up-close the impact of healing and mental health rehabilitation in post-conflict zones such as Rwanda, Liberia
Dear supporters, The terrible news from Ukraine reminds us that there are many people around the world fleeing war and devastation. It can sometimes feel that we are helpless, but experience shows that we can and do make a difference. Asylum Welcome applauds the public’s generosity in offering to host Ukrainians. We know this
Dear supporters, Our focus this month is on our work with young people, which you can read about below, including the stories of two wonderful young clients that are now working and volunteering with us, but it feels wrong to go to press this week without reflecting on current events
Featured photo: American Photo Archive / Alamy Two events last week illustrated very different elements of our work. We supported a young woman, who had arrived in Oxford among the thousands flown out of Kabul last summer, to move into her own flat in the city. She was an outspoken activist, at extreme
Dear Friend, It’s often hard to believe that any of us can make a difference… but individuals, working together as a group, certainly can. I’ve seen it with my own eyes in recent months and I want to thank you for everything you do to help Asylum Welcome in our work.
The first day at school is exciting and nerve-wracking for any child. Imagine how it feels for the dozens of Afghan children who recently started school around Oxfordshire. The children – boys and girls, of primary and secondary age – have been in the UK since the much-televised airlift took place, as Kabul suddenly
Dear Friend, I'm delighted that so many people came to the AGM on Monday this week. Of course, it was a shame not to meet again in person, but we heard from three outstanding speakers and I want to highlight their observations in brief. And I want to bring you right
