Wales’ integration strategy ambition must be more than a promise

Wales has an ambition to be a place where people seeking safety feel welcome, valued and able to build a future. But turning that ambition into reality takes more than good intentions. It takes people willing to listen, work together and make change happen.

With UK asylum and immigration policies changing, decisions made in Westminster are having a real impact on lives here in Wales.

While immigration policy is largely decided by the UK Government, Wales has an important role to play in helping people settle, access services and feel part of their communities.

So, what can we do here in Wales to make a real difference?

That question brought Members of the Senedd (MSs), frontline organisations and people with lived experience together for Sanctuary in the Senedd 2026, hosted by Sanctuary Coalition Cymru and kindly sponsored by Zaynab Akbar MS.

Held at Cardiff’s iconic Pierhead building, the event explored how Wales can turn the ambitions of its integration strategy into meaningful action.

Conversations about asylum and immigration aren’t always easy. At a time when public debate can feel increasingly divided, taking the time to listen and understand different experiences matters more than ever.

We were delighted to welcome MSs from across different political parties, who made time to meet people with lived experience and organisations working on the frontline.

Their willingness to listen, ask questions and engage with these important issues means a great deal. Good decisions start with understanding the people affected by them.

Anna Nicholl MS, from Plaid Cymru, told us she was “really delighted to support the event” and spoke about the importance of having “kindness and care at the heart of everything we do here and recognise each other as all equally valued people in our communities”.

One issue came up time and again: the harm caused by misinformation about refugees and people seeking asylum.

Misleading headlines and inaccurate claims can spread quickly, creating fear and making it harder for communities to understand one another.

Through our Behind the Headlines project, we’re helping people look beyond the headlines, understand the facts and feel more confident having conversations about asylum and immigration. Paul Shackson, who leads the project, explained:

“We’re encouraging members of the Senedd to sign our pledge, which is all about facts over fear, and for them to agree to tackle misinformation as and when they hear it.”

Because challenging misinformation isn’t about winning arguments. It’s about building understanding, finding common ground and seeing the person behind the headline.

Of course, listening is only the beginning. What matters most is what happens next.

Elbashir Idris, Community Engagement Officer at the Senedd and Caseworker at Welsh Refugee Council, captured this perfectly:

“We want to see the outcomes; we want to see the results. We want to see doors opened for people who have had their hopes taken away from them. By bringing organisations, communities and people together, we’re helping create a stronger future and a new baseline for generations to come.”

And the feedback showed a real appetite to make that happen.

Tackling misinformation and bringing communities closer together was the biggest priority for 60% of those who shared feedback.

People also left with a better understanding of sanctuary issues in Wales. Just as importantly, they valued the chance to build relationships, share ideas and explore how they could work together.

The conversation doesn’t end here

Sanctuary in the Senedd was never just about one afternoon. It’s about what happens next. The experiences and ideas shared will help shape future conversations with MSs and the campaigning work of Sanctuary Coalition Cymru and its members.

For people with lived experience, it was a chance to speak directly to decision-makers. For the MSs who joined us, it was an opportunity to listen, learn and better understand the challenges people face.

A huge diolch to the MSs who joined us, Zaynab Akbar MS for sponsoring the event, and everyone who helped make it possible.