News
14th February 2025 |
Threads of belonging: weaving stories of migration
On a chilly Friday morning in Wales, west Carmarthen to be precise, we hosted our first heritage workshop of the new year to understand how migration has influenced the Welsh culture we know and love. With representatives from a range of countries that could have resembled a UN summit — Wales, Iran, Kurdistan, Nigeria, England, …
12th February 2025 |
Statement: Jane Hutt MS on the Nation of Sanctuary commitment
Yesterday, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Jane Hutt MS, reaffirmed the Welsh Government’s unwavering commitment to Wales as a Nation of Sanctuary. The Welsh Refugee Council fully supports this vision and welcomes the continued leadership Wales has shown in creating a society where those seeking sanctuary can rebuild their lives in safety and dignity. …
11th February 2025 |
We can build a Nation of Sanctuary
Thirty-five years ago, the world watched as history unfolded. People everywhere stopped what they were doing to witness Nelson Mandela walk free from prison—a moment that symbolised hope, change, and the fight for justice. Mandela wasn’t just a leader; he was a beacon of resilience and fairness, showing us what’s possible when we stand up …
30th January 2025 |
Join the IKEA UPPNÅ Employability Programme
Are you a refugee in Wales? Fancy working for IKEA? Applications for the 2025 IKEA Employability Programme are now open! Apply for the IKEA UPPNÅ programme. The much-loved UPPNÅ Employability programme is a partnership between IKEA Cardiff and our Employability team helping refugees rebuild their lives in Wales. What does the programme involve? The …
24th January 2025 |
Aberystwyth University creating pathways to peace in Wales.
Yesterday, the Welsh Refugee Council had the privilege of joining Aberystwyth University for an event that struck at the heart of what we stand for: amplifying voices, sharing stories, and building understanding. “Digital Storytelling: A Welsh Pathway to Peace” was a day of shining a light on how storytelling can connect people and inspire change. …
14th January 2025 |
Spread of online misinformation, January 2025
“We are concerned by the circulation of misinformation by individuals in positions of influence. We urge everyone to seek the facts before sharing or endorsing inaccurate content, including fake images, doctored videos, and misleading claims. Spreading such material can escalate threats toward our organisation and staff, and seek to divide communities. In 2023, a video …
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
By Gareth Lynn Montes, Housing Policy and Research Lead. A version of this article was published in Wales Housing Quarterly in January 2025. 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 …