CEE us. Centrala Communities Network

08/10/2026

How do we turn personal stories of migrant work, career barriers, and unseen skills into real public action?

Your stories have helped us understand the barriers. Now, we want you to help us design what comes next.

Join us for our next interactive campaign workshop, part of the Quiet Power: Migrant Voices for Economic Justice series with artist Alicja Rogalska. This session moves beyond sharing experiences—we’ll work together on More Than a Workforce, a new campaign challenging the idea that migrants should be valued simply as labour rather than as professionals, leaders, creators, and individuals with ambitions of their own.

Together, we’ll turn shared experiences into powerful messaging, social media content, and creative campaign materials (like T-shirts and badges) to influence decision-makers and advocate for fair work, recognition, and economic justice.

No previous workshop attendance or creative experience needed—new participants are very welcome!

Wednesday, 21 of October 2026

6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Online

Register here: https://bit.ly/3Tv2Pht

Reflections shared may be anonymised for future creative outputs and reports. Funded by Barrow Cadbury Trust and hosted by CEEus! Network & Centrala.

07/10/2026

Migration can change your career. It shouldn’t stop your progress!

On World Day for Decent Work, we’re highlighting something that can easily be missed in conversations about migrant employment: getting into work is not the end of the story.
Decent work should also mean having your skills recognised, being able to develop and having a fair opportunity to progress.

Through More Than a Workforce, we’re sharing migrant experiences alongside evidence to challenge the barriers that can leave people working below their skills or struggling to move forward professionally.

Getting a job isn’t the same as getting a fair chance to progress!

05/10/2026

Next CEEus! Leadership Session Announced!

Migrant women often navigate complex, overlapping inequalities—from gender discrimination and language barriers to insecure immigration status, financial dependence, and unequal access to support services. Community leaders are frequently the first trusted contacts when someone experiences discrimination, controlling behaviour, or domestic abuse, making effective advocacy vital.

That's why we're delighted to invite you to the final session in our CEEus! Network Leadership Programme 2026: Advocacy for Migrant Women Facing Inequality and Abuse, taking place in person at Centrala.

This practical, interactive session is designed for migrant leaders, project managers, community organisers, volunteers, and emerging leaders from all migrant communities who want to build their confidence, understand structural inequalities, and effectively support women in their communities. You do not need to be an established leader or have professional domestic abuse practitioner experience to join!

Together, we will explore:

How gender inequality, discrimination, and domestic abuse specifically impact migrant women.
Practical advocacy skills, safe disclosure responses, maintaining professional boundaries, and signposting to specialist services.
How migrant and community leaders can unite through collective voice to challenge systems and influence decision-making spaces.
The session will be facilitated by Jana Grygarova, a Mental Health IDVA with extensive frontline experience supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse, bringing a trauma-informed and survivor-centred approach.

Lunch, refreshments, and beverages will be provided!

💚 Not a CEEus! member yet? You can still attend the training and join our growing network: https://bit.ly/472OeNy

Questions or accessibility needs? Reach out to us at [email protected].

(Supported by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Barrow Cadbury Trust)

03/10/2026

At the latest Economic Justice Brum gathering, our Community Organiser Viktoria joined organisations and community representatives to explore real examples of inequality and what needs to change.

One issue Viktoria brought to the conversation was the experience of overseas-qualified dental professionals. Skilled migrants arriving with qualifications and years of experience, but facing lengthy barriers before they can practise in the UK.
It's a powerful example of something we hear a lot through our Economic Justice Project — having skills and experience doesn't always mean having equal access to opportunity.

The wider conversation also explored housing, neighbourhood inequality and barriers to opportunity and how communities can work together to challenge the systems behind them.Because economic justice isn't one single issue. It's about who gets access to opportunities, resources and a real say in the decisions shaping our communities.

💚 And migrant voices need to be part of that conversation!

01/10/2026

Birmingham stands together against racism.

On Sunday 4 October, people from across the West Midlands will come together for the West Midlands Against Racism: Unity March & Rally in Victoria Square, Birmingham, from 1pm–6pm.

The event will bring together communities, organisations, campaigners and local people to stand against racism, hate and division, while celebrating the diversity of the West Midlands.

At CEEus!, we know how important it is for communities to stand together especially at a time when migrants and minoritised communities continue to experience hostility and division. We aim to create spaces where people can come together, challenge prejudice and stand in solidarity with one another.

We are proud to support this event and its message of unity.

📍 Victoria Square, Birmingham
📅 Sunday 4 October
⏰ 1–6pm

👉 Find out more about the event and what to expect:
https://bit.ly/3TEfyhE

30/09/2026

She had qualifications. She had experience. Migration didn't erase either !

29/09/2026

MIGRANT LEADERS SHOULDN’T HAVE TO CREATE CHANGE WITH ONE HAND TIED BEHIND THEIR BACK.

Last week, our CEE Us! Leadership Programme brought migrant and emerging leaders together to explore power, money and economic justice and the realities of leading communities when resources, funding and influence are not equally distributed.

Together with Migrant Voice, we talked openly about funding, financial resilience, who gets access to resources and decision-making spaces, and how migrant-led organisations can build greater influence by working collectively rather than in isolation.
Developing migrant leadership isn't only about building individual confidence. It's also about making sure migrant leaders have the knowledge, connections and power to challenge the systems affecting their communities.

28/09/2026

IMAGINE BUILDING YOUR LIFE IN THE UK — THEN BEING TOLD YOUR RIGHT TO STAY WAS GRANTED “IN ERROR”. 😡

The Home Office has notified 1,473 people that their pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme was granted in error. The decision is now facing a legal challenge.

Home Office faces legal action after 1,473 people living in UK before Brexit told settled status was granted in error

26/09/2026

LANGUAGE CAN OPEN DOORS. 🗣️💚

It can give someone the confidence to speak to a doctor, apply for a job, support their children at school, make new connections and have their voice heard.
But the languages we already speak matter too. They carry our stories, cultures, memories and identities.

This European Day of Languages, we're celebrating the many languages spoken across our CEE Us! community and everyone learning new ones while building their lives here.

Being multilingual is something to be proud of. 🌍

23/09/2026

🚨 YOUR PATH TO SETTLEMENT IN THE UK COULD BE CHANGING.

The Government is considering major changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), including an “earned settlement” system where the qualifying period for many migrants could start at 10 years instead of 5.

⚠️ These proposals have not yet been finalised, and the exact rules may still change.

If you or someone you know could be affected, it’s worth understanding what is currently being proposed.

👇 Read the full House of Commons Library briefing below ⬇️
https://bit.ly/4d1qdcT

Frequently asked questions about the UK government's immigration white paper proposals in 2025, including longer qualifying periods for indefinite leave to remain.