Refugee Council

06/10/2026

The lack of safe and legal routes means that tragically men, women and children are forced on petrifying, too often fatal journeys in the arms of smuggling gangs in the hope of finding safety in Britian.

The Government is right to try and put a stop to this by going after the smuggling gangs involved. But, as we highlighted in the i, the laws around this are flawed, and see refugees themselves being prosecuted.

Criminalising men, women and children who have fled regimes like the Taliban and brutal conflicts like in Sudan is not going to disrupt the business model of the smuggling gangs.

Defence barrister Audrey Mogan has seen first-hand why new legislation is bound to fail

05/10/2026

Talk about inspiring...

A wonderful insight into the work done by local organisations to support and welcome refugees to Britain, shared as part of the The Mirror's Island of Strangers series.

This piece features two organisations in Devon who are showing refugee girls from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan the joys of surfing off the Devon coast.

The Mirror's new 'Island of Strangers' film tells the story of a group of girls who have all fled war and terror in Iran, Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan learning to surf – as a way to overcome trauma

04/10/2026

What is needed to help build a new life, and not just survive but thrive?

🫶 Support

Only one word, but one that can mean so much for so many, especially Ruba. Discover how we’ve been able to support him in rebuilding his life, finding employment and now looking to support those that have lived through similar experiences.

👉 Visit our website to find out how you can support in a number of ways, creating the opportunity to not just survive, but thrive.

02/10/2026

Being granted refugee status doesn’t mean everything suddenly becomes easy. 💛

Refugees want to work, contribute and build their lives here - but finding a job, learning English or securing a home can take time.

And now, the Government is proposing something that could make that new beginning even harder.

Under plans in the new Immigration and Asylum Bill, refugees could be asked to pay around £10,000 because they received support while seeking asylum and would need to clear the full amount before they could get permanent permission to stay in the UK.

MPs are considering the Bill now - and we have already been speaking out against the Refugee Tax.

We know how much you care about refugees, and we’re working on the next step so supporters like you can add your voices alongside ours. 🙏

29/09/2026

Yesterday, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood promised to expand safe and legal routes so that some people in need of safety will be able to come to Britain safely. Safe and legal routes are essential because they enable men, women and children to find a safe way out of the conflict and violence that render their lives dangerous.

Safe and legal routes are also vital for undermining the people smugglers’ business model, giving people a safe alternative to a life-threatening journey to reach safety. Only yesterday, three people including a child tragically lost their lives on a desperate journey across the Channel.

Though we welcome this announcement, safe and legal routes only work when they operate at scale, and we are concerned these plans will only help a relatively small number of people.

For it to work, the Government must show ambition and commit to supporting people in the thousands, not hundreds.

Around 25% of arrivals under the UK Resettlement Scheme are expected to be Afghan women and girls and Palestinians.

28/09/2026

Imran Hussain, Executive Director of External Affairs at the Refugee Council, said:

"We are deeply saddened to learn three people, including a child, have died, and more may have been seriously injured while crossing the Channel in the hope of finding safety in Britain. We are thinking about the many people who will have been affected by this morning's tragedy.

“Refugees are often ordinary people who have been through unimaginably difficult situations. Too many men, women and children are forced on treacherous journeys like these, not by choice, but through desperation and the lack of safe alternatives.

"Today we welcome the Government's commitment to expanding safe and legal routes for refugees, an essential policy for undermining the people smugglers’ business model. This morning's Channel tragedy only reminds us of the urgent need to do more, and the need to support refugees through safe routes in the thousands, not hundreds."

Official says deaths – and dozens of injuries – were probably caused by crushing on boat carrying 105 people

27/09/2026

Saeed, Walaa and their three children are from Syria, where they escaped civil war. We were there to support them from moment they arrived in the UK.

Escaping and arriving in Hull via Jordan, when they landed at Manchester airport, Amer, an Employment Adviser at the Refugee Council was there to meet them. He saw their happiness to be arriving at a place of safety but also recognised their fear of the unknown.

Not knowing how the rental or job markets work and not speaking the language fluently can make it very hard to rebuild your life in a new country. Amer knew how that felt, arriving in a new place with skills, knowledge and a desire to work.

“I am not exaggerating, it is really rewarding, it is like I am welcoming a family. I was an asylum seeker myself; I want to help them. I want to see that happiness in their eyes. I also see their fear and feel them.”

We want refugees to find meaningful work.

When people can contribute, they feel joy and have purpose.

25/09/2026

The Government's Immigration and Asylum Bill includes plans to charge many refugees £10,000. If this proposal becomes law, a refugee who has had a positive asylum decision would find themselves thousands of pounds in debt to the Government - a major financial barrier just as they are trying to find their feet.

Read our explainer about the refugee tax, the harmful impact it could have, and what we think the Government should be doing instead to help refugees rebuild their lives and contribute to society:

https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/stay-informed/explainers/what-is-the-refugee-tax/

22/09/2026

Amer first joined the Refugee Council as a volunteer before becoming a resettlement support worker and now works as an employment advisor. He helps refugees rebuild their lives, contributing to our communities.

“The role of a resettlement worker allowed me to play a crucial role in helping refugees rebuild their lives, supporting them through the process of settling in a new country, and offering practical and emotional support. Moving to the employment advisor role has given me the opportunity to further impact the community positively by helping refugees to be financially independent and integrate into society through meaningful employment.”

Together, with people like Amer community groups, partners and volunteers, we help people who have escaped war and persecution to rebuild their lives, integrate into communities, and play their part in Britain.

Discover more about Amer’s incredible story, fleeing Iraq before moving to England to join his uncle and how you can help refugees rebuild their lives:
https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/stay-informed/stories/refugee-council-employee-from-iraq-supports-people-building-a-life-in-hull/?fbclid=IwY2xjawUfaE9wZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMDBDS3dQMTk2OWtkNDNOWWJzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeX9YBe-1x_R2njL4jZgRGzueeIRJOB5JRanO8miiS-DcnQpprqjQ65z5uyF4_aem_mC9dhQdR7mIAcRb_0uS-qQ

18/09/2026

Lots of us worry about saying the wrong thing when talking about refugees - or feel we don’t know enough. But you don’t need to be an expert to have a good conversation.

We’ve created a simple guide with ten practical tips to help you talk confidently about refugees with friends, family, and your community.

Click the link 🔗

https://refugee-council.movement-action.org/p/a-little-kindness-goes-a-long-way?utm_source=2526EMQ211&fbclid=IwY2xjawUaEKpwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMGg2a1dJb05heTJXOG1RRXBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeXig1GxYFC6xfftQQ2D2_rT4cHSFjwvUzyv7SfGX8Tei-ZefSMW30H85Y2Ik_aem_8yk9ZTPIPvvqyqvJ_3S4Ww