25/02/2026
A group of people seeking asylum wrote this letter at our Voice Group. They told us they want to respond to hostility with hope, and asked us to share the letter with you...
Dear Letter Reader,
We are a group of humans who happen to be asylum-seekers and members of Bristol Refugee Rights. We have come to the UK seeking safety, protection and a positive future. We are writing together to share our hopes and concerns, because of the rise in anti-immigration feeling in the streets, the media and in politics.
We want people to understand that behind the label “asylum seeker” are real people. We are human beings. We have families, skills, ideas, and values. We really care about safety and being part of the community around us. We want to live ordinary lives… to work, to pay taxes, to contribute to our local areas, to support our families, and to feel that we belong.
The asylum system creates serious daily barriers. Long delays in decision making and being forced to wait for years without the right to work or even study takes a heavy toll on mental health. Many of us feel like we are wasting away with our lives on hold, our purpose taken away. Living in uncertainty, unstable accommodation, and with limited access to healthcare leads to feelings of emptiness, anxiety, and depression. We are not living in luxury or receiving fast-tracked access to services. Most of the time, we are simply trying to survive each day.
Still, we contribute to society by volunteering, community involvement and caring for each other. We want to do more to add to the growth and development of this country. We want to provide and build a future. It is painful to be judged without being known.
We are also writing while the government is proposing some asylum reforms. Proposals that increase waiting times or uncertainty create fear and make it harder to rebuild our lives. Being stuck in limbo for longer prevents us from settling, integrating, and contributing fully.
If you remember one thing from this letter, we hope it is this: people seeking asylum are people like you. We have common values with British society and we want to live together in peace. We ask that conversations about asylum be led with care and humanity, not fear.
We are asking you to:
Listen to our experiences, and share food and stories together
Speak out against harmful and dehumanising language about people seeking asylum
Raise our concerns and support fair and humane policies
We want to walk together and work collaboratively on finding positive futures in the UK.
Thank you for taking the time to read our words.
Yours sincerely,
Asylum-seeking members of Bristol Refugee Rights
If you would like to respond or arrange a meeting, please contact [email protected]
