OVerview

The Movement Building & Lived Experience department exists to build the power, influence and leadership of refugees and people seeking safety, to challenge the UK hostile environment and the inequalities within asylum, housing and immigration advice systems.

284

Partner organisations

11

Regions across the UK

7

Live projects

Vision

A movement strengthened through solidarity, partnership and lived experience, transforming systems and challenging the hostile environment to build a more just and anti-racist society.

Mission

We build and facilitate collaborative and transformative initiatives rooted in principles of prevention and de-escalation to strengthen the refugee and migrant sector in the UK, placing co-design and user experience at the core of our work, the sector and community.

Our Principles

User-led Innovative Connective Collaborative Inclusive Sector-wide best practice

User-led

We are informed by the voices of our and the needs of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. We listen to the changing needs of organisations and we adapt our offer accordingly.

Innovative

We support experimentation and innovation to enhance services and practice. We facilitate the development of digital and design skills so that the sector can adapt to the changing environment.

Connective

We connect communities in the sector to enhance skills, services and practice. We facilitate learning and best practice with the organisations we work with.

Collaborative

We believe that organisations should work collaboratively to change the systems they work within to achieve better outcomes. We look for opportunities to scale and share learning and knowledge as widely as possible.

Inclusive

We are aware of power dynamics and seek to minimise these where possible in our work. We promote anti-racist practice and promote learning and development to drive structural change and shift power to refugees and asylum seekers.

Sector-wide best practice

We regularly reflect on learning and progress. We prioritise access to justice and early action service development across the sector.

TESTIMONIALS

'Your support has greatly contributed to the success of our work on the ground. The support package that we have been receiving from Refugee Action to help the most vulnerable migrants is equivalent to a mentoring scheme.'

Migrants At Work

'It is so good to learn about new developments and initiatives to build voluntary sector infrastructure and to better support asylum seekers and refugees. Thank you so much.'

partner organisation

'Refugee Action has been exceptionally supportive with practical and rapid advice, helping us find digital solutions and sharing best practice to ensure our centre users get what they most need.'

St Augustine’s