12 months of change

When the previous government tried to force through its Safety of Rwanda Act - overriding a Supreme Court ruling against its cruel deportation scheme - we fought back hard. Thousands of you joined us, writing to MPs and Peers to demand an end to this inhumane policy. Sadly, the Bill passed. But our fight didn’t end there - and the victory was still to come… 

For Valentine’s Day, we flooded MPs’ mailboxes with messages of support and love for refugees, expressing our love with those who stood against the cruel Rwanda Bill or sending a broken heart card to those who supported it. Watch our cards in action.

We celebrated the graduation of some of our Young Leaders, a group of young refugee campaigners – a time to reflect on their achievements fighting with us for a fairer system. Abdullah, one of our graduates, shared “Being a Young Leader has had a huge impact on my life … Together, we have increased awareness of the challenges and needs of refugees, and influenced decision-makers to provide more safe routes, especially for children.” Read Abdullah’s message. 

When the Rwanda Bill became law, it felt like a dark moment for refugee rights. But we didn’t give up. Many MPs stood with us outside Parliament as a show of support against the new law, and Lord Alf Dubs sent a powerful message to supporters like you: “As someone who sought safety in the UK as a child and who strongly believes in a compassionate asylum system, refugees must not be treated as mere political pawns.” So we kept up the fight. And just a few months later, the new government scrapped this cruel scheme! Together, we proved that compassion and justice always win. 

Many of our supporters took on incredible challenge events this month, including three determined individuals running the Edinburgh Marathon in pouring rain and two more taking on Ride London. Their efforts raised essential funds to support refugee children and families. 

We welcomed Amer, 13, to the UK after his entire family was tragically killed in an Israeli airstrike – the first lone child from Gaza to find safety in the UK. Through our Gaza Response Project, we’re now supporting 14 others seeking safety and family reunion. Amer is slowly rebuilding his life with his uncle, who shared, “I wish a brilliant future for him. I believe that I will be like his father…I know his father has left us. But at least we can support him in [a] similar way.” Watch Amer’s story. 

With the snap election called, thousands of you stepped up to demand safe routes for refugees by writing to your candidates and displaying your support across the country. Thanks to your efforts, over 260 cross-party candidates pledged their support, and 15 of them went on to become MPs. Shortly after the new government came into power, we celebrated a significant victory: the creation of a new safe route for Afghan families separated during the 2021 evacuations. After three years, these families will finally have the chance to reunite.

Our Young Leader Graduate and Expert by Experience Consultant, Amir, shared: “When I heard about the new family reunion pathway, I got so emotional. I couldn’t believe it. It’s a huge achievement that we made this change happen together.” 

We’re now working with some of the newly elected MPs to turn pledges into action. Read about your impact and Amir’s story. 

This summer saw far-right riots that left migrant and refugee communities in fear. Across the UK, countless individuals stood up against hate, outnumbering rioters and demonstrating the power of solidarity. Together, we showed that compassion can overcome violence. Anti-migrant hate, Islamophobia and racism have no place in our society and communities, and there’s much more work to be done to ensure safety and justice for all.  

Following the riots, a group of Young Leaders came together for a retreat in the countryside—a much-needed moment to reflect and connect in a safe, supportive space. One participant shared: "It felt almost as though we were in our own corner, detached from reality... It was wonderful and so needed for all of us." 

As the Labour Party gathered in Liverpool for their annual conference, we had a little surprise up our sleeves. We mocked up a famous magazine with a message that refugees are an essential part of our communities and need safe routes to safety. We distributed 250 copies to attendees, sparking meaningful conversations on the need for safe routes. The stunt garnered strong public engagement on the day, including among delegates. Watch the video to see how it all unfolded.

We started supporting our first clients as part of our Sudan Response Project, providing vital legal support to families torn apart by this deadly conflict. Many of you chipped in to make this project happen, and our lawyers are now hard at work. Many of those cases involve young unaccompanied children faced with the lack of safe routes to the UK – like Faris, Hamza, Ahmed and Tahir, four brothers who are trapped in the crossfire in Khartoum. Read their story.

We saw a new refugee family reunion bill reach the House of Lords which, if passed, could allow more children to reunite with loved ones in the UK. In the past few weeks, we've been building support in Parliament for this change. One Peer even told us they changed their mind thanks to our advocacy! But there’s still a long way to go. Check out this explainer for the latest update on the bill. 

We took to one of London’s busiest train stations with a giant arrival board to highlight the heartbreaking delays and dangers refugees face trying to reunite with their families in the UK. Many wait months, even years, or risk their lives at sea because of the lack of safe routes. But your support helps us keep fighting to change that. Watch the stunt.