Refugee Council

Thanks to The Athletic for featuring Fair Shot player Abdulsalam's powerful story in their latest podcast and highlighting the resilience and bravery of people forced to leave Sudan.

We have teamed up to make a difference through the sales of Don't Look Back. Don't Look Back shares the real-life story of Becca Pearl's grandparents' escape from Communist Czechoslovakia in 1949, as they risked everything to build a life free from oppression. Today, millions of refugees face the same harrowing journey, uprooted by conflict, violence, and persecution. Their story still resonates because it’s the reality for so many people around the world. When you buy Don't Look Back, you’re not just reading a story—you’re joining a movement to support refugees rebuilding their lives in the UK. For each copy sold, 50p goes to the Refugee Council, providing vital assistance to those who, like millions worldwide, have been forced to flee conflict and persecution in search of safety. Tap the link to grab your copy: https://bit.ly/3Cz4Lg7

Romia explains why the world needs to wake up to the situation in Sudan, and how the lack of awareness affects refugees. “Our war is missing [from the news]. No one knows that we are suffering. Our message is please – we need your support. Even in the UK, you’re still suffering.” “I’m from the Nuba mountains. I’ve been in the UK for two years. In the UK there are two main things, learning the language, and learning to do things online. You have to do everything here online!” “I’m studying English. I hope in the future to be an interpreter. I speak English and Arabic. We have a lot of different languages, every tribe has its own language.” “I want to say thank you very much to the Refugee Council. When we arrived here, they supported us to know the place, how to be part of the community, to help our children attend school, and how to improve our English.” Read more about Romia’s journey and how the Refugee Council supports refugees like her in our blog: https://bit.ly/3OiU43N #KeepEyesOnSudan #RefugeeStories #SudaneseVoices

❄️ Imagine fleeing war only to face homelessness in a cold, unfamiliar place. This is Omar’s story. In the last year, the number of refugees needing homelessness support has surged by 255%. Omar arrived in the Britain seeking safety yet found himself struggling to survive on the streets in winter. Through the Refugee Council’s Destitution Service, he found hope. 🏠 Swipe to read about Omar’s journey from isolation to a new beginning, made possible by the support of people like you. Discover his resilience and the transformation that’s just the start of his story. 👉 Tap the link to read more: https://bit.ly/3Oa4OkV

Be part of our new program designed to break down career barriers for people with lived experience. We’re hosting the launch of our Lived Experience Career Development Pilot Programme on Wednesday 20 November online on Microsoft Teams at 14:00-15:00: https://bit.ly/3CuaW4Y Join us to find out more about our pilot programme. The programme has been developed by a steering group, based on the findings of our research into the barriers colleagues with lived experience face when trying to progress in their careers. You can hear more about our research on the Third Sector Podcast too.

“Our path is full of obstacles.” Haroon is from Afghanistan. He spoke at the Houses of Parliament with a group of other young refugees, to tell MPs and Peers about the issues they face in the asylum system.   “My journey here wasn’t by choice. When the Taliban took control, my life turned upside down. I left behind my family, my memories and my hopes. I hope my family can be together again one day.   At first I was very isolated here. We’re caught in a system that moves slowly, destroying our hope. People want to work – but it’s not allowed. It’s hard to access education. I started volunteering with the Refugee Council. After that my mental health improved. But our path is full of obstacles. It’s not only me, but many young people in my situation.   I’m doing my GCSEs - I dream of becoming a pilot. But at night, we feel depression, anxiety and loneliness. We’re not just statistics, we’re human beings, each with a story. Imagine a better way, that supports and empowers people. We need the system to be more humane.”   Haroon is a member of our Youth Advocacy and Campaigns Group – he’s speaking out to raise awareness of the problems for many young people in the asylum system, who want the chance to move on with their lives, study, and find work. Read more about the visit in our blog: https://bit.ly/3CiGyuo 📸1, 4 and 5: David J East

Imagine fleeing persecution to seek safety and instead finding yourself homeless. When Omar arrived in Britain, he was desperate to find safety. “I ended up afraid and alone during a bitterly cold London winter. My bed was a mattress behind a supermarket.” The Refugee Council was there for him when he needed us. 'It felt like a new beginning. They helped me find housing, employment, medical care and counselling. Everything I needed to start rebuilding my life in safety.' Help us be there for more refugees facing homelessness. Read Omar’s story and learn how we’re providing life-changing support to those in need: https://bit.ly/3YTLFd1

Imagine arriving in a new country and having only 28 days to find a safe place to live, or you could end up homeless. For many new refugees, this is reality. Moving to a new country without knowing where to start makes finding a home tough. “Some of our clients say, ‘I haven’t had a good sleep in days.’ Not having a safe place to live is really hard,” says Adonis, who helps run our Private Rented Scheme (PRS). Our PRS helps refugees find safe homes by connecting them with kind landlords, giving them guidance, and teaching them how to rent a home. Want to know how you can help? Tap the link to learn more: https://bit.ly/4hrgNrT

🚨 Important reminder: From 1 January 2025, physical documents like biometric residence permits (BRP) and biometric residence cards (BRC) will no longer be valid as proof of immigration status. You’ll need an eVisa – a digital record of your immigration status. From 31 October 2024, new BRPs will no longer be issued, and all people who receive a positive decision on their asylum claim will receive an eVisa. You can apply for an eVisa by creating a UKVI account on https://bit.ly/45krdCG. If you’re unsure about the process or need support, Lancashire County Council have put together useful step-by-step guides in English, Arabic, Dari, Pashto, and Ukrainian. 🔗 Tap the link for the detailed guides: https://bit.ly/3NUdrjA

Refugees have skills, talents and professional experience that they can bring to our communities. After fleeing war and persecution, all they want is to rebuild their lives and careers, but they are not allowed. Months, even years, can pass before they receive a decision on their claim and only then they’re allowed to work. But it doesn’t end there. Refugees only have 28 days to find a new job. Can you imagine doing that while you’re still navigating a new country, new systems and a new language? Although many people have training and qualifications from their home countries, these are not recognised here and refugees often need additional training. With partnerships like those with IKEA and Starbucks, we help refugees gain skills, find work, and rebuild confidence, but without you this wouldn’t be possible. Read our blog to see how you can help today: https://bit.ly/4hnkoaj