My name is Jason and I arrived in the UK in 2014, and I recently had the opportunity to be Guest Editor of Refugee Action’s Winter Newsletter.
Being in the asylum system and experiencing the hurdles and hoops you must jump through motivated me to want to improve the system for others. As people seeking safety, we hope for a new start in a foreign land away from the feeling of being imprisoned in our native land.
No one leaves their home country unless ‘home’ is in the mouth of a shark.
I believe it’s so important to bridge the gaps between people seeking safety and their new communities. I have loved being part of this newsletter telling you the stories of refugees and people seeking safety and showing you the work Refugee Action is doing to bridge gaps in communities.
Your support truly matters. Your continued generosity helps people seeking safety access vital support.
In this edition of Your Action you can read pieces featuring some of Refugee Action’s incredible Experts by Experience (people with lived experience of the asylum system) volunteers about community, social justice, and campaigning.
Volunteers are the backbone of Refugee Action, what we do wouldn’t be possible without them. We had the immense privilege of interviewing Mick one of our Bradford volunteers, affectionately known as the ‘grandad’ of the team. In his interview he shares what inspires him to volunteer, you can read it in our winter newsletter.
Mahmoud was a civil servant and campaigner in West Africa, he loved his job advocating for others. But his life was sent into a spiral when the authorities began persecuting him. He was forced to leave behind his wife and young son. Now as costs rise, he’s having to choose between buying food for himself or supporting his family. Find out how you can support people like Mahmoud to access vital services.
I interviewed two phenomenal women, Azadeh, the Communication and Engagement officer and Ana, the Expert by Experience Coordinator. Both are Experts by Experience, a term for people with lived experience of the UK refugee and asylum system. It was amazing to hear their perspective as women with lived experience, in the workplace.
By supporting Refugee Action, you are part of making sure no one faces the asylum system alone.
