The Supporting Asylum Seekers and Refugees Conference 2025: Using a Human Rights Based Approach
Past and Present Supporters Include:
Overview:
Asylum seekers and refugees continue to face significant instability and uncertainty, exacerbated by the restoring control over the immigration system white paper and broader hostile political environment. Refugees and asylum seekers are among the most vulnerable in our society, often enduring profound trauma from experiences of conflict, persecution, and displacement.
Get in Touch
Agenda
Registration
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Dr Georgia Cole, Chancellor’s fellow, University of Edinburgh (CONFIRMED)
Dr Ingi Iusmen, Associate Professor in Governance and Policy, University of Southampton (CONFIRMED)
Keynote: Understanding the Migration Landscape: Challenges and Policy Developments
- Understanding the asylum system, how people claim asylum and their support needs and their entitlements
- The future for asylum seekers and refugees in the UK under Labour: policy developments, dangerous rhetoric and increasing Far Right activity
- Asylum accommodation: private contractor profits, lack of local involvement and oversight, costs and Far Right activity
- Access to a fair, humane asylum process, including safe routes
Tim Naor Hilton, Chief Executive Officer, Refugee Action (CONFIRMED)
Keynote: Overcoming Barriers to Integration
- Refugees experience multiple barriers to engaging with services. We will look at how we can overcome these with a person-centred approach
- Smashing the stigma attached to participation when someone is perceived as a collaborating with the authorities; how to build trust with the wider community
- Overcoming financial barriers as well as cultural and social barriers to integration
- Addressing inequalities for newly arrived communities
- How to have difficult conversations around British values
Mandy Sanghera OBE, International Human Rights Activist (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: AI Under Watch – Understanding the Implications of AI use in the Asylum System
Session TBC
Aya Khedairi, Community Engagement Manager, Migrants’ Rights Network (CONFIRMED)
Questions & Answers
Comfort Break
Case Study: Providing Holistic Services in the Context of Safe Spaces and People to Help Unaccompanied Young People Thrive
Jimmy Zachariah, Chief Executive Officer, Baca Charity (CONFIRMED)
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
Euan Fraser, Senior Policy and Research Advisor, Hope for Justice (CONFIRMED)
Questions & Answers
Lunch Break & Networking
Case Study: Creating a Trauma Informed Asylum Process
Dr Ingi Iusmen, Associate Professor in Governance and Policy, University of Southampton (CONFIRMED)
Dr Jana Kreppner, Professor in Developmental Psychology, University of Southampton (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: Providing Trauma-informed Support for Refugees
Session TBC
Josh Corlett, Education Manager, International Rescue Committee (CONFIRMED)
Questions & 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
Ciara Devlin, CEO, Breaking Barriers (CONFIRMED)
Abdulrahman Bdiwi, Involvement Officer, Breaking Barriers (CONFIRMED)
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
Catherine Gladwell, Chief Executive Officer, Refugee Education UK (CONFIRMED)
Questions & Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Dr Ingi Iusmen, Associate Professor in Governance and Policy, University of Southampton (CONFIRMED)
Dr Georgia Cole, Chancellor’s fellow, University of Edinburgh (CONFIRMED)
Conference Close
Speakers
Tim Naor Hilton
Chief Executive Officer
Refugee Action
Jimmy Zachariah
Chief Executive Officer
Baca Charity
Euan Fraser
Senior Policy and Research Advisor
Hope for Justice
Louise Thompson
Director of Services
Breaking Barriers
Catherine Gladwell
Chief Executive Officer
Refugee Education UK
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 us HERE
IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.
Virtual vs F2F
Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:
- Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
- Lower sponsorship package costs
- No travel/accommodation
- Less time out of the office
- No stand materials required (lower costs)
- 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
- Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
- Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
- Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access (coming soon)
To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact us below:
