The Supporting Asylum Seekers and Refugees Conference 2026: Prioritising Dignity and Protection
Past Supporters Include
Overview
Asylum seekers and refugees continue to face significant instability and uncertainty, exacerbated by rising political tensions, increasingly hostile responses to migrants, and the implementation of harsher immigration policy through the Restoring Order and Control policy paper. Refugees and asylum seekers are among the most vulnerable in our society, often enduring profound trauma from experiences of conflict, persecution, and displacement.
Agenda
Registration
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Dr Georgia Cole, Chancellor’s fellow, University of Edinburgh (CONFIRMED)
Keynote: Understanding the Migration Landscape: Challenges and Policy Developments
- Understanding the new asylum and returns framework and what it means in practice
- Temporary protection, decision-making backlogs and access to a fair asylum process
- Exploring the future for asylum seekers and refugees in the UK including policy developments, dangerous rhetoric and increasing Far Right activity
- The role of local authorities and civil society in delivering humane and effective support within a challenging environment
Olivia Blake MP, Co-chair, APPG on Migration (invited)
Keynote: Supporting Migrants in a Hostile Environment
- The impact of anti-migrant rhetoric and protest activity on communities and services
- Supporting mental health and wellbeing in an environment of uncertainty and fear
- Working with communities to build trust and social cohesion
- The role of advocacy and communications in shaping public responses to asylum seekers
Mark Rowland, CEO, Mental Health Foundation (invited)
Keynote: Creating Cohesive Communities Through Integration
- The case for a national refugee integration strategy and what this means for local delivery
- Moving beyond employment as the sole measure of integration to include housing, health, education and social connection
- Embedding lived experience in the design, delivery and evaluation of services
- Building long-term, place-based partnerships that support inclusion and community cohesion
Kelly Fowler, CEO, Belong (invited)
Questions & Answers
Comfort Break
Case Study: Preventing and Relieving Refugee Homelessness
- Learning from local authority practice to respond effectively to rising refugee homelessness
- Supporting smooth and sustainable move-on from asylum accommodation into safe housing
- Strengthening partnership working across housing, health services, and the voluntary sector to deliver coordinated support
- Identifying funding and commissioning models that enable long-term, sustainable solutions for destitute refugees
Senior Representative, Resettlement Team, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (invited)
Case Study: Temporary Housing and Refugee Mental Health
- Understanding the mental health impact of contingency and temporary accommodation, including prolonged uncertainty, isolation and frequent moves
- Exploring the relationship between place, belonging and recovery and how housing conditions affect integration and wellbeing
- Delivering trauma-informed and culturally competent mental health support within housing and community settings
- Identifying the implications for housing, health and social care services and strengthening cross-sector responses to improve outcomes
Professor Hanna Kienzler, Professor of Global Health, KCL (invited)
Questions & Answers
Lunch Break & Networking
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.
Keynote: Providing Trauma Informed Support
- Embedding trauma-informed approaches across asylum, housing, health and education services
- Recognising the impact of pre-migration and post-migration trauma on engagement with support
- Supporting staff wellbeing and preventing vicarious trauma and burnout
- Creating safe, consistent and empowering environments that enable recovery and integration
Josh Corlett, Education Manager, International Rescue Committee UK (invited)
Case Study: Supporting Unaccompanied Children and Young People
- Creating safe, stable and nurturing environments that enable unaccompanied children to recover from trauma and rebuild trust
- Supporting young people through key transition points, including turning 18 and moving into adult services and accommodation
- Improving access to education, mental health support and high-quality legal advice to secure long-term outcomes
- Strengthening multi-agency working between local authorities, schools, health services and the voluntary sector to safeguard young people and reduce the risk of exploitation
Cllr Anthony Okereke, Executive Member for Communities, London Councils (invited)
Questions & Answers
Comfort Break
Case Study: Tackling Modern Slavery and Exploitation
- Recognising the key risk factors for trafficking and exploitation, including insecure immigration status, asylum accommodation and destitution
- Protecting support services such as housing, food provision and outreach from being targeted by exploitation networks
- Providing effective advocacy and access to legal pathways that secure safety, recovery and improved immigration outcomes for survivors
- Strengthening multi-agency safeguarding responses through coordinated working between local authorities, police, health services and the voluntary sector
Andrew Wallis OBE, CEO, Unseen (invited)
Case Study: Education and Skills for Long-Term Integration
- Overcoming barriers to accessing ESOL, further education, and vocational training
- Recognition of overseas qualifications and supporting career progression
- Developing mentoring, tutoring, and apprenticeship schemes
- Inclusive education strategies for children and young people
Louise Thomson, Director of Services, Breaking Barriers (invited)
Questions & Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Dr Georgia Cole, Chancellor’s fellow, University of Edinburgh (CONFIRMED)
Conference Close
Get in Touch
Previous Speakers Include
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
I really enjoyed attending this event and learnt a lot from the variety of different speakers. It was very helpful to gain a wider understanding of the challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers and the organisations that support them.
An excellent and inspiring event with a powerful lineup of speakers. It reaffirmed my belief in the vital work being done to support refugees and asylum seekers, and the strength of the community driving this change.
Great event, highly recommended- If there is anything similar organised in the future, I will attend for sure.
Great event with quality speakers – thank you!
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:
