WAST Manchester

WAST Manchester WAST Manchester aims to raise awareness about the issues that force women to seek international protection and aims to empower women asylum seekers.

We are a network of over 150 women that live in Greater Manchester and are experiencing the UK's hostile asylum system. Together, we share our experiences, empower and support one another. We fight for our rights and raise awareness of the issues that force women to seek international protection and the effects of the injustices within the UK immigration system. WAST is a safe space where we can be ourselves. Our vision
A society where compassion, respect, inclusion and empowerment enables women to reach their potential and have a voice within an increasingly hostile environment. Our mission
WAST Manchester is a grassroots organisation led by and for women seeking asylum in Greater Manchester. We campaign for social justice and women's rights through a peer-led support model that helps women find their place in the UK. Our values

Compassion - we empathise

Respect - we listen and believe

Inclusion - we welcome

Empowerment - we raise women's voices

Our network

Our network of over 150 women speak many languages and practise many religions. We are women of all ages, nationalities, ethnicities, sexual orientation and disabilities. We speak many languages,
Some of us have children and spouses or partners with us, others face our families being split up by deportation and many of us are alone. As women seeking asylum we can often feel vulnerable due to isolation, trauma, ill health, facing destitution, homelessness, or deportation. Get in touch if you want to join our network of amazing women!

After fleeing violence in her home country, WAST member Ivie* hoped to find safety in the UK. But instead she faced many...
08/10/2026

After fleeing violence in her home country, WAST member Ivie* hoped to find safety in the UK. But instead she faced many years of homelessness, hunger and extreme poverty.

Ivie's story is sadly not unusual. Right now, 1 in 5 WAST women are destitute, made even more vulnerable by a hostile asylum system.

No woman should be forced to go hungry or live on the streets. No woman should be abandoned and isolated, left to face her trauma alone.

If you can, please support our campaign . Even just a few pounds can provide a lifeline to a woman in our network. Thank you 🧡

Support our campaign: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/destitutiontodignity

Read Ivie's story: https://www.wastmanchester.com/case-study-ivies-story

*name changed to protect anonymity.

We’re looking forward to welcoming our members back after the summer break, kicking off with Friday drop-in on 11th Sept...
08/09/2026

We’re looking forward to welcoming our members back after the summer break, kicking off with Friday drop-in on 11th September ☕️

After that, we’ll be back with sewing group, choir and other opportunities to get together, learn new skills and look after your wellbeing.

We know that seeking asylum can be a frightening and isolating experience, which is why community is so important to us! If you’re a woman seeking asylum, get in touch to find out how to join WAST.

Or, to support the vital work we do, visit our website: wastmanchester.com

Did you know that WAST has a sewing group? 🧵 We get together every fortnight to sew, share skills and create space for s...
01/09/2026

Did you know that WAST has a sewing group? 🧵 We get together every fortnight to sew, share skills and create space for self expression. Our women tell us it’s a great place to make new friends and find a sense of belonging. Sometimes we even collaborate on special projects, like sewing this Banner of Hope during Refugee Week earlier this year. Featuring words like hardihood, courage and bravery, the banner is a celebration of our amazing women and their capacity for hope 🧡

If you’d like to support us to deliver more wellbeing activities like this, visit our website: wastmanchester.com/make-a-donation

HUGE thanks to everyone who has supported our campaign so far – you're amazing! Thanks to you, we can provide shelter, f...
24/08/2026

HUGE thanks to everyone who has supported our campaign so far – you're amazing! Thanks to you, we can provide shelter, food and essential supplies to destitute women in our network 🧡🧡🧡

We're almost 20% funded, so let's keep going! We're hoping to raise £3000 to support the 1 in 5 WAST women facing currently destitution, while the emergency Migrant Destitution Fund is closed.

To find out more, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/destitutiontodignity and help us take women from destitution to DIGNITY!

This Thursday we’re throwing back to 'More In Common' 🪡We can't believe it's been a whole year since the WAST sewing gro...
13/08/2026

This Thursday we’re throwing back to 'More In Common' 🪡

We can't believe it's been a whole year since the WAST sewing group exhibited as part of Horizons Festival, a partnership between Community Arts North West and HOME Mcr 🧡

WAST women created a series of artworks for the show, weaving together the places we now live with the places of our past. It was a wonderful way to express our stories and to find the common threads between us, women who come from all around the world. Beautiful, don't you think?

It was a brilliant experience and we’d love to do it again. Why not get in touch if you’d like to collaborate with our community on a creative project, exhibition or event?

📸 By Shirlaine Forrest

We’re currently raising urgent funds to support women in our network who are experiencing destitution.But what is destit...
04/08/2026

We’re currently raising urgent funds to support women in our network who are experiencing destitution.

But what is destitution exactly, and how does it affect women seeking asylum?

To find out more and donate to our urgent appeal, click the link in our bio or visit: justgiving.com/campaign/destitutiontodignity

Thank you 🧡

Movement, green spaces, laughter... Good for the soul and great for wellbeing.That's why we're so grateful to Grass Rout...
30/07/2026

Movement, green spaces, laughter... Good for the soul and great for wellbeing.

That's why we're so grateful to Grass Routes Movement for inviting us to be part of their pilot project earlier this Summer. Women from our community joined outdoor activities in Heaton Park for a rare opportunity to get outside together, enjoy our green spaces and play fun movement games together. We had such a great time, thank you 💚💚💚

📸 Grass Routes Movement

🎶 Calling our music-loving Manchester community 🎶 Join our new friends Play For Planet at Fuel Cafe Bar in Withington th...
30/07/2026

🎶 Calling our music-loving Manchester community 🎶

Join our new friends Play For Planet at Fuel Cafe Bar in Withington this September for an evening of live music and great company, all in the name of a good cause.

Thanks so much to Play For Planet for choosing to fundraise for WAST Manchester 🧡

🎟️ Grab your ticket here: https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Manchester/Fuel-Bar-Cafe/Play-For-Planet-2/42486393/

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported our urgent appeal so far 🧡This is where your money goes – directly to su...
10/07/2026

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported our urgent appeal so far 🧡

This is where your money goes – directly to supporting women and children facing destitution in the UK’s hostile asylum system.

There’s still time to donate! To find out more, visit: justgiving.com/campaign/destitutiontodignity

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Manchester

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10:30am - 2:30pm
Thursday 10:30am - 2:30pm
Friday 11am - 3pm

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