News
16th December 2024 |
From Namibia to the Principality: A memorable day for Utumuna
On a typically Welsh Sunday afternoon in November—cloudy skies and all—the Welsh Refugee Council had the privilege of watching Wales take on Fiji at the Principality Stadium as part of the Autumn Internationals. Thanks to the generosity of our fantastic partners at the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), we had tickets in hand for a day …
12th December 2024 |
Statement: The situation for Syrian sanctuary seekers and refugees
The Welsh Refugee Council is deeply concerned by recent developments surrounding the situation for Syrian sanctuary seekers and refugees, particularly the suspension of asylum processing in the UK. We echo the position of the UNHCR that the situation in Syria remains one of the most complex displacement crises in the world. The ongoing instability …
11th December 2024 |
Become our brilliant new ESOL volunteer
Could you be our new ESOL volunteer? We are looking for a friendly face to support sanctuary seeking families at our Play Project in Cardiff. From our experience, mums can find it hard to access mainstream ESOL classes. The timing of classes and lack of childcare can create barriers to learning a new language. That’s …
6th December 2024 |
Move On period extended to 56 days
We are extremely pleased to hear that the UK Government and Home Office have finally extended the move on period to 56 days. While we await an official announcement and communications on the practicalities from the Home Office, let’s recap what we know so far. In many different areas of the UK, from Glasgow to London, the number …
29th November 2024 |
Building a Nation of Sanctuary: one step at a time
By Sabiha Azad, Coordinator for Sanctuary Coalition Cymru Sanctuary in the Senedd 2024 was sponsored by Jenny Rathbone MS at the Pierhead Wales has an extraordinary opportunity to establish itself as a true Nation of Sanctuary—a place where refugees and asylum seekers can rebuild their lives with dignity, safety, and hope. It’s a vision we’re …
27th November 2024 |
Growth in calls to increase the Move On period for refugees
Good news isn’t always easy to find in the realm of asylum policy in the UK. So we were glad to hear the Minister of State for Border Security and Asylum, Dame Angela Eagle MP, acknowledge that steps are needed to help refugees smoothly settle into life in the UK. However, this was back in …
22nd November 2024 |
WRC launch new financial well-being workshops
by Souleymane Ouedraogo Last month the WRC launched their new financial well-being training workshops in their Cardiff office. The first of its kind, the workshop was attended by sanctuary seekers and refugees, including women, young families, and older people. The aim of the workshop was to inform people about the various forms of support and assistance …
13th November 2024 |
New eVISA support service
Wales eVisa Support Programme Starting December 31, 2024, Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) cards will be replaced by digital eVisas across the UK, and the Welsh Refugee Council, funded by the Home Office, is ready to help people in Wales with this transition. Here’s a quick guide to what eVisas are, why you need a UKVI …
2nd September 2024 |
Statement: Home Office border security announcement
Statement from the Welsh Refugee Council CEO Andrea Cleaver in response to Home Office announcement. The Welsh Refugee Council is deeply concerned by the Home Office’s latest measures, which prioritise border security and enforcement over the protection and dignity of those seeking refuge. While we recognise the need for effective immigration management, this approach risks …
30th August 2024 |
A taste of Ukraine
We had the privilege of being in Swansea on Saturday 24 August for Ukrainian Independence Day. Over a hundred people gathered in St. David’s Place to celebrate Україна’s thirty-third birthday. The Welsh Refugee Council was one of the main sponsors of this event organised by Sunflowers Wales, a community group run by Ukrainian volunteers here …