This year’s Refugee Week is a moment to celebrate the extraordinary resilience, creativity and contribution of refugees and asylum seekers within our communities.
In our work delivering acute and primary care services to people seeking refuge, we witness daily not just the challenges of displacement – but the generosity, resourcefulness and kindness that individuals bring, even when navigating their own uncertainty. We’ve seen people teach English to others in their hotel to help them navigate life in a new country, offer IT support within our own organisation, share music, cook meals for community kitchens, improve shared garden spaces, and train as mental health first aiders to support others in similar situations.
These acts don’t come from obligation – they come from an intrinsic desire to help, to connect, and to rebuild. And they don’t happen in isolation. None of this would be possible without the tireless work of charities, community groups, volunteers and support workers who have stepped up again and again.
We are especially grateful to our brilliant local voluntary sector partners. What began as a small response to an emerging humanitarian need has grown into a coordinated effort involving more than 35 organisations, some with long-standing expertise in refugee support, others new to this work. Together, we’ve combined knowledge, experience and compassion to support people living in hotels across our area.
Importantly, many refugees and asylum seekers have not only received support – they’ve become active contributors, volunteering, leading
projects, and sharing their lived experience to shape the services we deliver. All of this takes place against a challenging political and social backdrop. We see, even in our own communities, the effects of a narrative that seeks to divide, one that questions the value of those who seek safety and undermines the systems built to support them. But in response, we witness something far more powerful: people coming together, choosing kindness, and creating meaningful, lasting impact.
We’re proud of what this collective effort has achieved, and determined to keep going. Because everyone, no matter their background or journey, deserves the opportunity to live a healthier, safer, more hopeful life.
Lena Abdu,
Associate Director, Alliance for Better Care
Get in touch if you would like to find out more about our Inclusion Health service for Refugee and Asylum Seekers. Information available on our website.
Photo caption: Refugee Week artwork displayed in Redhill Belfry Shopping Centre
