Regional Refugee Forum North East

20/10/2026

Last month, our Tyneside members sat down with Northumbria Police for an honest conversation about hate crime, and why so many people never report it.

Hate crime takes a real toll. Victims are three times more likely to experience anxiety and depression than victims of non-hate crime.

Our members shared the reasons that stop people coming forward:
🔹 Belief that police won’t act
🔹 Not being sure it counts as a crime
🔹 Distrust of police
🔹 Fear of retaliation or of being outed
🔹 Worry among people seeking asylum that reporting will affect their case

On that last point, officers reassured everyone that reporting hate crime does not affect asylum status. We were glad to hear the police acknowledge the distress victims go through, and that trust has to be earned through visible action.

Community Engagement Sergeant Carly Baillie also shared that community members may be invited to attend the Hate Crime Scrutiny Panel, where they can observe and give feedback on how cases are handled.

If your refugee-led community organisation would like to be part of this, message us and we will connect you with Northumbria Police. 🤝

Thank you to Northumbria Police for engaging with our members, and thank you to everyone who spoke openly about their concerns and personal experiences.

14/10/2026

We’re giving ourselves a small pat on the back. Our AGM on 1 October was a success, and a very productive one too. 🎉

We asked our members one big question: what do you want from the Forum in 2027?

You told us, and here’s the plan:

• We’ll keep assisting you find and apply for funding.
• We’ll strengthen our advocacy and influencing efforts to change harmful political and public narratives around refugees and asylum seekers in the UK
• We’ll build a stronger collective voice on the support refugee and asylum seeker parents and children receive from schools and local authorities.

Thank you to everyone who came and shared their ideas. Thank you also to International Centre Middlesbrough for the spacious venue, and to Riz Bakes cakes for a lunch that had everyone going back for seconds.

Our trustees and the RRFNE team are excited about this new chapter for the Forum. If you know an RCO that could use our support, or you’d like to team up on empowering refugee communities, send us a message. We are always here to help.

23/09/2026

Recent anti-immigration protests have left many in our communities feeling anxious and unsettled. In times like these, it's more important than ever to recognise, tackle and prevent hate crime.

We've partnered with the North East Migration Partnership (NEMP) to produce an online Hate Crime Guide. The guide covers information about:

• The different types of hate crime
• Why it is important to report a hate crime
• How to report it, the process, and where to get help and support

We know how deeply our communities value safety and stability. No one wants hate crime to affect their family or friends. That is why we are here to support our refugee and asylum seeker communities to report every incident, however minor it may seem.

If your community is affected by hate crime, please get in touch. We are here to support.

➡️ Read and share the Hate Crime Guide, co-produced by NEMP and RRFNE, available in 11 languages:
https://www.nemp.org.uk/hubs/asylum-hub/key-asylum-information/hate-crime-guides/

16/09/2026

Shall we use AI to write funding applications?

At the bid-writing session in Middlesbrough, we continued to explore the use of AI in writing funding bids. We acknowledge that AI is a powerful tool for enhancing efficiency, particularly for smaller organisations. Some funders also use AI to assess applications.

However, Community Development Officer Judy emphasised the importance of maintaining your organisation's authentic voice — one that reflects the real lived experience of your community, and the unique, irreplaceable evidence that only your organisation can bring to an application.

Let AI help with the structuring and proofreading, but let your community's voice tell the story.

If your refugee-led community needs help reviewing your application, get in touch and we would be happy to lend you a second pair of eyes.

04/09/2026

"What makes a good funding application?"
"Where can I find a funder?"
"What are the tips to increase our chance of success?"

These are the questions we often hear from our communities, so we brought members together to share our knowledge.

Yesterday we had the pleasure of gathering with our Tyneside members to discuss bid writing tips. Our Coordinator Thiago emphasised the importance of clearly defining organisational needs, noting that strong bids are built through disciplined follow-through. Our Community Development Officer Judy encouraged members to start with smaller grants, and gradually build up their confidence and experience in applying for larger funds.

We thank the members for joining and sharing their experience, as well as asking inspiring questions that help build collective knowledge. We are also grateful to Newcastle Building Society for their partnership and for providing their community space in Newcastle city centre to host our members.

Our members around Teesside can still join us for a session on the 10th in Middlesbrough. Drop us a message to reserve a space.

26/08/2026

At the Regional Refugee Forum North East (RRFNE), we work hard to stand with our communities on safety and stability.

In June, we teamed up with Cleveland Police and our members for an honest conversation about hate crime. Yesterday, our coordinator Thiago took that work a step further, meeting with Matthew Storey and Sarah Wilson to talk about how the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland can work with our refugee-led community organisations (RCOs) to prevent and tackle hate crime.

We know that many people don't report hate crime because of distrust of police forces. That's why we're asking police authorities to maintain regular dialogue with our RCOs, stay open with us, and help shape policies together with the people they're meant to protect.

Thank you, Matthew and Sarah, for taking the time to meet with us. We're hopeful this leads to real, lasting change for our communities.

17/07/2026

The “move on” from asylum support to independent living can be full of questions and worry – but our communities have the answers.

The new Move On Guides for Newly Granted Refugees were co‑produced by:

- People with lived-experience from RRFNE member groups.
- Refugee-led community organisations (RCOs) and statutory partners.
- Our partners at the North East Migration Partnership (NEMP)

Together, we turned years of shared experience into a practical, multilingual tool that explains, in clear steps, how to:
Apply for State Benefits Find a Job Find Somewhere to Live Manage your Money Find the Right Support and Guidance

This is what co‑production looks like in the North East: individuals with lived-experience, community groups, and statutory partners designing solutions side‑by‑side, so fewer people are left without support when asylum support ends.

👉 Download the Move On Guides:
https://www.nemp.org.uk/hubs/asylum-hub/move-on-information-for-newly-granted-refugees/

Please share this with anyone seeking asylum, individuals who have recently been granted refugee status, and organisations and allies who stand with them.

If you have been granted a positive decision, or if you are currently awaiting a decision, the information below will...

10/07/2026

Yesterday, we brought members together for a conversation about the role of trustees. The session was organised in partnership with Middlesbrough Voluntary Development Agency.

It was a valuable opportunity to reflect on what good governance looks like, why trustee boards matter, and how strong leadership can help organisations stay rooted in their values while supporting the communities they serve.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and shared their thoughts and experience. We’re proud to create space for learning, connection, and shared action across our network.

Stay tuned for more details of our upcoming training sessions and conversations.

22/06/2026

During Refugee Week, we asked our members what courage means to them.

One member shared:
"Courage to me means allowing myself to be educated when I arrived in the UK – learning about words like depression, resilience and mental health. And then sharing my story and my lived experience with strangers, seeking support for myself and my community."

Another member told us:
"Unity, tolerance, kindness and respect give new arrivals the courage to integrate, contribute their talents and thrive."

These reflections remind us that courage is both personal and collective. It takes courage to learn, to ask for support, to share your story, and to build communities where everyone feels welcome and valued.

🧡 What does courage mean to you? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

19/06/2026

A great morning for Thiago from the Regional Refugee Forum North East at the Stockton Refugee and Asylum Seekers Services Fair, held at Jubilee Church on 16 June.

It was a wonderful opportunity to meet refugees and people seeking asylum, connect with local organisations, and learn more about the support available across the Tees Valley.

Events like this help bring people together, build connections, and ensure that members of our communities know where they can find support, advice, and opportunities to get involved.

We encourage members of the refugee and asylum seeker community, organisations, and community partners to join future events, learn about local services, make new connections, and be part of a supportive and welcoming environment.

Thank you to everyone involved in making the event such a positive and inclusive space. Citizens Advice Open Door North East Refugee Futures British Red Cross