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 b

e 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!

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

👋 Hello to all our lovely new followers who've joined us over the past few months. Welcome to our community! It seems li...
08/07/2026

👋 Hello to all our lovely new followers who've joined us over the past few months. Welcome to our community! It seems like a good time to reintroduce ourselves and tell you what we do...

WAST stands for Women Asylum Seekers Together. We're a grassroots charity and peer-to-peer community based in Manchester, led for and by women seeking asylum. Founded all the way back in 2005, we've supported hundreds of women to find their voice and a sense of belonging on the road to seeking asylum.

To find out more and support the work we do, why not visit: wastmanchester.com

New blog! WAST member Samia shares her experiences from our day trip to Edale last month.To read the full article, visit...
06/07/2026

New blog! WAST member Samia shares her experiences from our day trip to Edale last month.

To read the full article, visit: https://www.wastmanchester.com/news-and-blog/a-trip-to-edale-by-samia

Trips like these are so important for our mental health, wellbeing and sense of community. Thanks for helping to make these trips happen 🧡

💬 One thing I wish people knew is… “Asylum seekers are not allowed to work or get any benefits.”There are a lot of misco...
03/07/2026

💬 One thing I wish people knew is… “Asylum seekers are not allowed to work or get any benefits.”

There are a lot of misconceptions around the support that asylum seekers receive. But the fact is, the women in our network are prevented from working or contributing to society while seeking asylum. At the same time, they're not entitled to claim benefits. This can leave many of the women in our network facing destitution or extreme hardship.

Charities like WAST can provide a lifeline to these women and children, but we can't do it with you. Thank you to everyone who supports us, you truly make a difference! 🧡

And if you'd like to show your support, why not share or donate to our current campaign ? To find out more, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/destitutiontodignity



📸 Postcard written by a WAST member when asked "What is one thing you wish people understood about seeking asylum?"

🗓️ Coming up at WAST this month...As usual, we have lots of wellbeing activities and opportunities to get together as a ...
02/07/2026

🗓️ Coming up at WAST this month...

As usual, we have lots of wellbeing activities and opportunities to get together as a community. Including sewing group, choir and yoga/dance with Afrocats Manchester 🧡

If you're a woman seeking asylum in Greater Manchester, get in touch and find out how to join our next drop-in.

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Manchester

Opening Hours

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

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