The Supporting Asylum Seekers and Refugees Conference 2025: Using a Human Rights Based Approach
Past and Present Supporters Include:
Overview:
The recent shift in government offers an opportunity to develop more robust measures to safeguard refugees. However, asylum seekers and refugees continue to face significant instability and uncertainty, exacerbated by the 2023 Illegal Immigration Act. Refugees and asylum seekers are among the most vulnerable in our society, often enduring profound trauma from experiences of conflict, persecution, and displacement.
- Refugees are five times more likely to have mental health needs than the UK population (Refugee Council)
- People seeking asylum are often living on Home Office support equivalent to under £7 per day (Refugee Council)
- There has been a 99% increase in refugee homelessness in the last 12 months (Naccom)
Join us at the Supporting Refugees and Asylum Seekers Conference 2025 where leading experts and frontline professionals will provide the latest updates, insights, and practical guidance on addressing the challenges refugees face. This event will offer invaluable perspectives on best practices for supporting asylum seekers and refugees in securing essential services such as housing, healthcare, and employment. Moreover, we will explore strategies for aiding those facing destitution and safeguarding asylum seekers and refugees from trafficking and modern slavery.
Why Attend:
✓ Hear high-level keynotes on the latest guidance and strategies for supporting asylum seekers across the UK
✓ Gain practical insights into securing safe and affordable accommodations, protecting migrants and refugees from trafficking and modern slavery and supporting them to obtain employment and education
✓ Engage with senior colleagues from across the sector to discuss strategies for ensuring accessible local services for refugees and asylum seekers
✓ Gain 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota
Agenda
Registration
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Keynote: Understanding the Migration Landscape: Challenges Facing Refugee and Asylum Seekers and Policy Developments
- Understanding the asylum claiming system and how to support asylum seekers navigating the system
- Outlining what government support asylum seekers and refugees are entitled to and how they can access this
- The future for asylum seekers and refugees in the UK under Labour: repealing the Safety of Rwanda Act, focusing on stopping smuggling gangs and extending the move on period
- Ensuring the UK’s responsibilities under international law are met to support refugees, ensuring their right to a fair and humane asylum process is upheld
Keynote: Promoting Welcoming and Inclusive Communities
- Guidance for ensuring that refugees and asylum seekers are able to access the resources they require to integrate into their communities
- Best practice examples of local communities working to support asylum seekers and refugees in the area
- Fostering empathy and understanding for the experiences of refugees and asylum seekers from those in the receiving society
Questions and Answers
Comfort Break
Case Study: Supporting Refugee and Asylum-Seeking Children and Young People
- Addressing the psychological and social challenges faced by young refugees, including trauma from displacement and the loss of family members
- Ensuring local authorities understand how they can support children and the unique challenges they face
- Guidance for safeguarding and supporting unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee children
- Strategies for promoting integration through community-based activities and school based programs
Case Study: Safeguarding Refugees and Asylum Seekers from Trafficking and Modern Slavery
- Guidance on aiding an asylum seeker or refugee you suspect may be a victim of trafficking or exploitation
- Best practice examples of supporting survivors of trafficking and exploitation
- Protecting services such as food banks and temporary accommodation from becoming a target for traffickers
- Strategies for educating vulnerable individuals about trafficking and the many forms it can take
- Guidance on providing advocacy services to victims of trafficking and/or modern slavery to support their immigration cases
Case Study: Supporting Asylum Seekers Facing Destitution
- Understanding the importance of supporting asylum seekers with no recourse to public funds
- Ensuring coordination within local authorities and with agencies to provide support for asylum seekers facing destitution, including emergency accommodation, financial aid, and access to food and healthcare.
- Best practice examples of local authorities and charities offering comprehensive support to asylum seekers facing destitution
Questions & Answers
Lunch Break
Case Study: Ensuring Access to Healthcare and Mental Health Support
- Outlining the impact of issues related to uncertainty surrounding asylum claims, housing, work, and integration on mental and physical health
- Ensuring that asylum seekers and refugees understand their entitlement to free NHS care and how to access this
- Guidance on supporting refugees and asylum seekers with complex mental health needs including trauma, PTSD, and depression
- Guidance on developing an inclusive health service sensitive to cultural and linguistic needs
- Sharing successful partnerships between health services, NGOs, and community groups to provide comprehensive care
Case Study: Providing Safe Housing & Preventing Homelessness
- Outlining the current housing crisis for refugees, including challenges faced in accessing safe, affordable accommodation and working within the “move on” period
- Supporting refugees with tenancy deposits in order for them to access private rental properties
- Key policy and practice recommendations to improve housing outcomes
- Addressing homelessness through strategic partnerships between housing authorities, local governments, and NGOs focused on improving refugee housing stability
Questions and Answers
Breakout Networking:
This session will provide you with the opportunity to discuss the biggest issues facing asylum seekers and refugees and strategies for collaborating across organisations, local councils and agencies to provide robust support systems. We encourage you to take this time to network with colleagues and share your experiences.
Comfort Break
Case Study: Supporting Refugee Access to Employment
- Outlining key barriers to employment faced by refugees and asylum seekers, including language, skills recognition, and work permits
- Partnering with employers to foster inclusive recruitment processes for refugees
- Providing mentoring and interview support for refugees
Case Study: Supporting Asylum Seeker and Refugee Access to Education
- Strategies for improving access to education for refugee children and young people
- Ensuring that teaching and wellbeing staff are trained on supporting asylum seeking and refugee children
- Guidance for creating welcoming and supportive education environments where asylum seekers and refugees can thrive regardless of their education level
Questions and Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Conference Close
Previous Speakers
Steve Valdez-Symmonds
Refugee and Migrant Rights Programme Director,
Amnesty International
Professor Dallal Stevens
Professor of Refugee & Asylum Law
University of Warwick
Maggie Filipova-Rivers
Local Authority Network Lead
City of Sanctuary
Rosie Tapsfield
Active Inclusion Officer and City of Sanctuary Officer
Newcastle City Council
Dr Santokh Gill
Senior Lecturer in Sociology
University of Huddersfield
Elizabeth Owen
Lead Public Health Strategist
Newham Council
Josh Corlett
Education Manager
International Rescue Committee
Anna Sheppard
Safeguarding Advisor
International Rescue Committee
Debbie Busler
Head of Safeguarding
British Red Cross
Allison Ward
Consultant Paediatrician
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
Testimonials
An excellent event with a wide range of well informed and engaging speakers
This event was extremely interesting and nice variety of speakers all of whom had something very useful to share about their experiences of supporting refugees and people seeking asylum.
Excellent event with informative speakers
The event speakers were excellent. I have taken notes and can definitely follow up on some of the learning within my organisation, and share with colleagues.
Why You Should Attend
Why Attend:
✓ Hear high-level keynotes on the latest guidance and strategies for supporting asylum seekers across the UK
✓ Gain practical insights into securing safe and affordable accommodations, protecting migrants and refugees from trafficking and modern slavery and supporting them to obtain employment and education
✓ Engage with senior colleagues from across the sector to discuss strategies for ensuring accessible local services for refugees and asylum seekers
✓ Gain 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota
Who Should Attend?
| Job Title Examples | Organisation Examples |
| Case Workers | Charities |
| Social Workers | Civil Service |
| Support Workers | Human Rights Organisations |
| Safe Guarding Professionals | Health and Social Care Organisations |
| Healthcare Professionals | Local Councils |
| Teachers | Schools |
Pricing Options
PRIVATE SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
PUBLIC SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
Voluntary Sector
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
Sponsorship
Raise your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business
If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact Chris Mott today at sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form here and we will contact you.
Benefits of partnering with us include:
- Brand awareness: Be seen by a highly targeted and engaged audience before, during, and after the conference.
- Lead generation: Meet the decision-makers and influencers responsible for making purchasing decisions on cyber security and data protection.
- Thought leadership: Position your organisation and experts as thought leaders and the ‘go to’ experts.
- Networking: Make valuable connections with potential new customers and partners across government and the wider public sector
- Grow your business: Reach decision makers in a single event on just one day and in one location (with no travel/accommodation required), saving you time and money.
- Gain valuable insights: Hear the latest from key stakeholders in government, and across the public and voluntary sectors.
IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.
For more information and discuss your specific objectives, please contact Chris Mott at sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form here
