News
Urgent call to stop detention and removal of 14 year old Afghan orphan
4th March 2010
Welsh Refugee Council today called on UKBA to act quickly to release Mashal Jabari, 14 years of age, from Campsfield detention centre, and to suspend removal directions until a full assessment of his age can be made. Welsh Refugee Council does not normally comment on individual cases, but in this instance believes that there are compelling compassionate grounds why this boy should be allowed to remain in the UK.
Welsh Refugee Council surprised and concerned at reports of attitudes at Cardiff Border Agency
3rd February 2010
Read the full story
Welsh Refugee Council expresses concerns at plans that may see hostels for refused asylum families
3rd February 2010
Read the full story
Welsh Refugee Council joins other agencies to tell the Joint Committee on Human Rights about destitution and the weaknesses of the asylum support system
10th January 2010
Read the briefing
Briefing: All Wales NGO Children’s Policy Group Child and Adolescent Mental Health
8th December 2009
Read the briefing
WRC responds to plans to introduce 'earned citizenship'
27th October 2009
Welsh Refugee Council has commented on UKBA's proposals to introduce two stages of tests for applicants for British citizenship. Read the WRC's response here.
New barriers to submitting asylum evidence
13th October 2009
Welsh Refugee Council has reacted with shock at Home Office changes brought in today with no warning.
The changes mean that many people in Wales who have been refused asylum will be unable to submit further evidence in support of their case.
Kate Smart, Director of Policy, Communications and Advocacy at the Welsh Refugee Council, said:
‘Asylum seekers come from countries in turmoil. Situations in those countries are changing all the time. Submitting new evidence that reflects those changes is vital to ensure that people who need a place of safety receive it.’
Agencies slam cuts to asylum welfare
5th October 2009
Organisations working with refugees across the UK, hit out at government cuts to asylum welfare being introduced today (5 October). The Refugee Council, Refugee Action, Scottish and Welsh Refugee Councils and North of England Refugee Service (NERS), all members of the Asylum Support Partnership, branded the cuts “appalling” and are calling on the government instead to allow asylum seekers to work.
Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act receives Royal Assent
28th August 2009
Joint Parliamentary Briefing from the Refugee Council, the Scottish Refugee Council and the Welsh Refugee Council: Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill 2009
House of Commons Second Reading, 2nd June 2009
Following its passage through the House of Lords, this Bill received its second reading in the House of Commons on the 2nd June 2009. A revised briefing outlining the Refugee Council’s concerns and recommendations was sent to MPs and can be viewed here.
The Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act received Royal Assent on 21st July. See the summary of the bill’s passage through Parliament here.
Somalis experience rural life in Wales
12th August 2009
City-dwelling Somalis in the UK are being given the chance to experience traditional rural life in a farm in mid Wales
Read the full story
Bala Baghdad Cafe at the Eisteddfod
30nd July 2009
At this year's Eisteddfod in Bala, North Wales, the Welsh Refugee Council is running a free cafe to showcase the experiences and contributions of Iraqi refugees to Wales.
At the 'Bala-Baghdad Cafe' Iraqi refugees, who are learning Welsh, will be serving mint tea in an Arabian tent which displays art, poetry and music of Iraqi origin.
We hope to make Eisteddfod visitors feel welcome, just as the people of Wales have welcomed Iraqi refugees' said Welsh Refugee Council Chief Executive Mike Lewis.
For further information call: 07791 131724
Free NHS treatment for refused asylum seekers
22nd July 2009
New NHS regulations ensure that refused asylum seekers will be entitled to free treatment until they return to their country of origin.
See the full documents in English and Welsh
Inclusion Cardiff Extranet launches
21st July 2009
Cardiff Council’s Social Projects & Development Team is piloting a new approach to promoting social inclusion and sharing information with citizens, partners, stakeholders and service users through the use of a secure password protected Extranet, Inclusion Cardiff.
Visit the Inclusion Cardiff website
Welsh Refugee Council supports moves to understand linguistic diversity in schools
21st July 2009
Read our Consultation Response: PLASC First Language Data Collection
Refugee teachers with stories to tell
15th July 2009
On Monday 13th July two refugees will be graduating from Cardiff University after qualifying as teachers, thanks to the support of the Welsh Refugee Council (WRC).
Download the full press release
New briefing on the Borders Bill
10th July 2009
Refugee Council, Welsh Refugee Council and Scottish Refugee Council publish a new briefing on the Borders Bill.
Refugee agencies send message to new EU presidency
1st July 2009
As Sweden takes over the Presidency of the European Union, the European Council on Refugees and Exiles sends a Memorandum: 'Putting protection back at the heart of EU asylum policy'.
Read the full memorandum.
Refugee Week Simple Acts campaign
17th June 2009
See pictures of celebrities taking part in 'simple acts' for Refugee Week
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees comments on the challenges ahead this World Refugee Day.
17th June 2009
Read more at the UNHCR website.
Borders Immigration and Citizenship Bill - New Briefing
1st June 2009
Welsh Refugee Council publishes new briefing on the Borders Immigration and Citizenship Bill in partnership with the British Refugee Council and the Scottish Refugee Council.
Welsh Refugee Council stall at the Urdd Eisteddfod
25th May 2009
For the first time, Welsh Refugee Council will have a stall at the Urdd Eisteddfod which starts on bank holiday Monday. Why not come along and see us?
The stall will include a range of toys, games and activities, based on the theme of dragons around the world. There will be free squash and biscuits for kids and we are launching our 'global citizen' t-shirts.
We look forward to meeting you!
Down But Not Out: Refused Asylum Seekers in Wales Choose Years of Destitution Over Return to Their Unsafe Homelands
14th May 2009
Figures published today by the Welsh Refugee Council show that people refused asylum choose years of destitution in Wales over return to unsafe countries […read more]
Read the Policy Evaluation
Read the UK-wide report: The Second Destitution Tally
Welsh Refugee Council Comments on Children in Detention Report
5th May 2009
In his report on the arrest and detention of children subject to immigration control, Sir Al Aynsley Green, the Children’s Commissioner for England, called for the detention of children for administrative purposes to end […read more]
Read the briefing on Children in Detention
17th April 2009
WRB Churches Together, a group of churches from north Cardiff, have organised a ‘Sanctuary’ garden at the RHS Spring Flower Show in Cardiff this weekend. The garden symbolises the issues facing asylum seekers in the UK.
Read the press release from WRB Churches Together
Refugee Week Wales Community Activities Fund – Apply Now
1st April 2009
Applications are now open for this year’s Refugee Week Wales Community Activities Fund. Whether you’re an individual, community group, refugee community organisation, education centre or faith group, you could apply for up to £1000 to hold an event during Refugee Week.
Find out more information about the Community Activity Fund
Download the Application Form
Welsh Refugee Council Highlights Government’s ‘Abusive’ Treatment of Asylum Seeking Children
9th March 2009
The Chief Executive of Welsh Refugee Council has criticised the UK government’s treatment asylum seeking children as “abusive” and “dehumanising”.
Talking on The Politics Show on BBC1 Wales yesterday, Mike Lewis said that by detaining children, the government was in breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Read More
BBC Wales – Week In Week Out
24th February 2009
Tonight’s Week In Week Out is all about asylum seekers living in Wales. Staff and volunteers from Welsh Refugee Council have helped the producers with the programme, which highlights the story of one of our Congolese clients. The programme airs tonight at 10.30pm on BBC1 Wales.
You can also hear our Chief Executive, Mike Lewis, being interviewed about the programme live on tonight’s Good Evening Wales on BBC Radio Wales at around 5.40pm.
Joint Response to the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill 2009
18th February 2009
This briefing by the British Refugee Council, Scottish Refugee Council and Welsh Refugee Council on the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill 2009 outlines the organisations’ main concerns for the House of Lords Second Reading on the 11th February 2009.
Archbishop of Wales Urges Public to Help Destitute Asylum Seekers
Find out more about the Hardship Fund.
17th December 2008
The Archbishop of Wales has pledged his support for the Welsh Refugee Council’s Hardship Fund, which has been relaunched today.
As Christmas approaches and we look forward to spending time and sharing food and gifts with our loved ones, hundreds of asylum seekers are destitute on the streets of Wales. The Hardship Fund will supply everyday basics for these individuals – blankets for a newborn baby, a winter coat for a newly-arrived refugee or food parcels for destitute families. (read more...)
Groundbreaking Conference to Address Mental Health for Asylum Seekers and Refugees
22nd October 2008
Welsh Refugee Council is hosting a groundbreaking conference on mental health for asylum seekers and refugees.
‘Mental Health Matters: Issues for Refugees and Asylum Seekers’ takes place at the Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea on Wednesday 10th December.
There will be speakers from key organisations in the field, such as the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture and Mind.
The conference will give health practitioners, policy makers and voluntary sector organisations the chance to discuss key issues, see examples of best practice and improve collaboration and partnerships.
For more information, look at the conference flyer or use the booking form to reserve a space.
Welsh Refugee Council Backs Charter of Asylum-Seeking Women’s Rights
30th July 2008
Welsh Refugee Council has pledged its support to the Charter of rights of women asylum seekers. The Charter – which was produced by the charity Asylum Aid – calls for the UK Border Agency to create a gender-sensitive culture throughout its policies and practice. (read more...)
To find out more about the Charter, visit the Asylum Aid website
Other Sections
and asylum seekers
to rebuild their lives
in wales
Contact Details
General Enquiries
Tel: 029 2048 9800
Fax: 029 2043 2980
Email: info@welshrefugeecouncil.org
Further Contact Information
