A Practical Guide for Organisations: Responding to the Home Office’s “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” Consultation

(Closes 12 February 2026)

Dear Colleagues,

You will have seen the Home Office consultation “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement”. It proposes replacing most current 5-year routes to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) with a default 10-year earned pathway — and for many groups, including low earners, essential workers, refugees, and those who have claimed public funds, the wait could extend to 15, 30 years or longer.

These changes could apply retrospectively, upending the timelines people are already relying on. The human cost is clear: prolonged family insecurity, rising child poverty, deeper mental health strain, and increased pressure on crisis services.

As organisations supporting migrants, refugees, families, survivors of abuse, care leavers, and low-wage workers, we have a shared responsibility to respond — and to do so together.

To help, We have created a practical Advocacy Guide for organisations. It offers:

-Suggested answers for every consultation question, rooted in evidence and real casework

-Flexible wording you can adapt with your own frontline examples

-Emphasis on key protections: non-retrospective application, exemptions for vulnerable groups, recognition of holistic contributions (like caregiving and volunteering), and safeguards against hardship and discrimination

Please add your organisation’s voice by completing the official survey here:

www.gov.uk/government/consultations/earned-settlement Deadline: 23:59 on 12 February 2026 — time is short. In solidarity.

Human Rights Solidarity hosted a Refugee Week panel and art exhibition highlighting refugee resilience, dignity, and global stories of displacement. Human Rights Solidarity (HRS) was proud to present “Sanctuary and Solidarity: Rethinking Refuge in a Divided World,” a thought-provoking panel discussion held alongside the Humanity Cartoons Exhibition as part of Refugee Week 2025. The event took place on 17 June 2025, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, at City, St George’s, University of London, bringing together diverse voices to address the pressing challenges and transformative potential of forced migration.

Featuring powerful works from artists in over 100 countries, the Humanity Cartoons Exhibition offered a poignant visual narrative of displacement. These artworks transcended language, capturing raw, untold stories often overlooked in mainstream media. Instead of reducing refugees to mere statistics, the exhibition showcased their resilience, dignity, and strength through compelling human portraits.

The discussion featured an exceptional lineup of professors, storytellers, lawyers, and media experts from City, St George’s, who engaged the audience in critical conversations about displacement, identity, justice, and community in an increasingly fractured world. Their insights highlighted the urgent need for solidarity and systemic change.

About Refugee Week

Refugee Week, the world’s largest arts and culture festival celebrating refugees, was founded in the UK in 1998 and has since grown into a global movement. Held annually around World Refugee Day, its mission is to promote inclusion, amplify refugee voices, and challenge harmful narratives through art, education, and advocacy.

The 2025 theme, “Community as a Superpower,” emphasized the strength of collective action in creating welcoming spaces for refugees. In 2024, the festival saw over 15,000 events worldwide with 1.3 million participants, ranging from grassroots gatherings to large-scale cultural celebrations. Events include art exhibitions, film screenings, concerts, workshops, and storytelling sessions, many led by refugees themselves.

The evening was filled with powerful reflections and calls to action, featuring moving talks by Prof. Francesca Strumia (City, St George’s), Michel Salamouni (City Cares, City, St George’s), Sanjar Qiam (Storyteller, Kite Maker, and Media Specialist), and Burak Batuhan Karakus, HRS Spokesperson — exploring forced migration, identity, and justice. One speaker poignantly noted:

“A child born in a Rohingya camp doesn’t dream of dependency. She dreams of becoming a teacher.”

With 85% of refugees hosted in resource-strained countries, the panel stressed the urgent need for equitable global responsibility and sustainable solutions. Displacement is not a temporary crisis — it demands bold, long-term strategies that recognize refugees as contributors, not burdens, to society.

“It’s time to replace shame with solutions.”

Refugees are doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, and artists with immense potential. Beyond emergency aid, investments in education, digital access, legal work rights, and economic opportunities are crucial. In an era of global connectivity, we have the tools to match skills, foster integration, and build stronger communities for all.

HRS extends heartfelt thanks to City, St George’s, University of London for hosting this vital discussion, as well as to the speakers, attendees, and supporters who reaffirmed that community is indeed a superpower. Together, we can create a world where sanctuary and solidarity prevail.

HRS and King’s College London discussed refugee women’s integration challenges, highlighting Hizmet Movement volunteers’ more positive experiences from survey results. On the evening of February 25, Human Rights Solidarity (HRS) and King’s College London hosted a significant panel discussion addressing the integration processes and challenges faced by refugee women. The panel also evaluated the results of HRS’s “Integration Survey” conducted among female volunteers of the Hizmet Movement. The survey findings revealed that the integration experiences of Hizmet volunteers significantly differed from those of other refugee communities, demonstrating a more positive trend.

Moderated by Dr. Aqeel Abdulla from King’s College London, the panel featured 20-minute presentations by Dr. Nuni Jorgensen from the University of Oxford, Kerim Balcı from HRS, and Monique Garforth from the Refugee Employability Program. Asiye Betül Akyüz, a member of HRS’s Women’s Rights Committee, summarized the key findings of the women’s integration survey, while Sevgi Ünal introduced the simultaneous cartoon exhibition on migration and refugees held in the same venue. The panel was attended by more than 100 participants, including university and postgraduate students, as well as members of Turkish and various refugee communities.

At the beginning of the panel, moderator Dr. Aqeel Abdulla briefly shared his background, mentioning that he himself is a Syrian refugee who has now become a British citizen. Referring to the traumas caused by the 13-year civil war in his homeland, Abdulla emphasized the emotional burden of witnessing heartbreak and loss or listening to painful experiences. “This can be triggering for us because we must process this trauma in a productive and beneficial way. This is the pressure we put on ourselves and the reason why we advocate for asylum and refugee rights,” he stated.

Refugee policies must be free from gender bias

Dr. Nuni Jorgensen, a researcher at the University of Oxford’s Migration Observatory, pointed out that for many years, refugee policies have considered men as the “norm” and women as the “exception,” making integration significantly more challenging for female refugees. According to Jorgensen, while women often struggle to prove they are victims of gender-based violence, men frequently face skepticism and are sometimes denied asylum due to being perceived as “economic migrants.”

The percentage of male asylum seekers in the UK increased from 63% in 2009 to 80% in 2022, sparking political debates. However, data shows that both men and women have had an equal acceptance rate of 76%. Jorgensen stressed the need to remove gender-based assumptions from refugee policies and to reconsider migration experiences by acknowledging the different challenges faced by men and women.

Hizmet volunteers show greater tendency for integration

Kerim Balcı, who provides refugee rights training at HRS, compared the integration experiences of Hizmet Movement volunteers with those of other communities. According to HRS’s survey results, Hizmet volunteers demonstrated a notably different and more positive integration trend.

Balcı highlighted a striking finding from the survey: while 91% of the respondents were married, none of them cited domestic violence as a concern in response to open-ended questions about desired improvements in their lives. This contrasts with the findings of studies conducted by UK refugee councils, where domestic violence was frequently reported as a widespread issue among other refugee communities.

Additionally, Balcı noted that while some refugee communities in the UK still show resistance to sending their daughters to school, this trend was not observed among Hizmet volunteers. He attributed this to their stronger inclination toward integration with British society compared to other groups.

He further elaborated on the survey findings: “Among the respondents, 42.9% stated that human rights and freedoms were their primary concern, while 27.7% prioritized the rule of law. In contrast, only 23.4% identified financial stability as their main concern. This is unusual for migrant communities, as financial security is typically the top priority due to the economic setbacks and loss of professional recognition that often accompany migration. However, for this group (Hizmet volunteers), freedom, law, and the protection of fundamental rights take precedence.”

The biggest challenges: Language barrier and homelessness

Monique Garforth, who has long worked at a foundation focused on refugee employment, highlighted that one of the biggest challenges faced by women is ‘language proficiency’. She explained that due to language barriers, even routine tasks such as ‘registering with a general practitioner’ can become an overwhelming struggle.

Another critical issue, according to Garforth, is ‘homelessness’, which makes adapting to life in the UK nearly impossible: “For homeless individuals, concerns about education, training, or employment become secondary. The immediate need is a home. That is why a significant portion of our program is dedicated to helping refugees cope with homelessness.”

She pointed out that many refugee women, despite being highly educated, remain trapped in low-paying jobs due to ‘qualification recognition barriers’ or ‘systemic exclusion’. “Female refugees face significantly higher unemployment rates compared to both male refugees and the general population,” she stated.

Emphasizing that most refugees do not wish to rely on social security benefits but instead strive to work, establish their lives, and ensure their children’s success, Garforth concluded:
“Our services aim to support their integration into society, facilitate access to education, and help them find employment opportunities. These efforts create a real impact.”

‘Humanity Cartoons’ exhibition attracted great interest

Following the panel, attendees explored the ‘Humanity Cartoons’ exhibition, organized by HRS. The exhibition showcased the winning works from an ‘international cartoon competition’ focused on migration and refugee issues. Visitors, deeply engaged with the artwork, expressed how the illustrations powerfully depicted the struggles of refugees and influenced their perspectives on the issue.

The competition was originally launched in 2015 by Kimse Yok Mu, a humanitarian aid organization operating in Turkey. However, the Turkish government ‘unlawfully shut down’ the organization in 2016, forcing many of its employees into refugee status.

Since 2019, HRS and Time to Help volunteers have continued exhibiting the competition’s award-winning cartoons in the UK, including in cities like London and Newcastle. Due to strong public interest, the two organizations decided to continue the competition, rebranding it as ‘Humanity Cartoons’. The second and third editions were held in 2023 and 2024, respectively, and the winning artworks continue to be exhibited across the UK.

Human Rights Solidarity (HRS) organised a remarkable and meaningful event on the occasion of ‘Refugee Week’ celebrated between 17-23 June. HRS volunteers exhibited the cartoons titled ‘Humanity Cartoons’ about the problems and rights violations of refugees at symbolic places in London, on 20 June.

The 15 works in the travelling exhibition were selected among 750 cartoons participating in the International Migration Cartoon Competition, which was organised for the third time this year. The cartoons dramatically criticise or make suggestions on issues such as ‘migration, asylum and refugees’, which have become one of the main agenda items of the world.

The first place where HRS volunteers exhibited the cartoons was the famous iconic square Piccadilly Circus. The works were then exhibited in Trafalgar Square, followed by near the Prime Minister’s Office (Number 10), Parliament Square, Westminster Bridge and in front of the London Eye.

HRS volunteers also carried banners emphasising the problems of refugees such as ‘Refugees welcome’, ‘They need a home, like us’, ‘Everyone deserves to live in safety’. A cartoon competition and leaflets with information about refugee rights were handed out to people who had been attentively viewing the exhibition.

The fact that the event took place at a time when the UK government is planning to send refugees to the African country of Rwanda was also seen as meaningful by visitors to the exhibition.

Apart from London, Humanity Cartoons was also exhibited in Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, Hull City and Lancaster. The exhibition held at St Maary’s Haritage Centre, one of the historical places of Newcastle, was open for 3 days. On 20 June, representatives from other organisations working on refugee issues attended the cocktail reception. Dr Neslihan Aksoy gave a speech on behalf of HRS, while Rebecca Bangura from Comfrey Project and Sara Muzaffer from Peace of Mind spoke.

The competition was held for the third time

The 3rd International Migration Cartoons Competition was organised by the UK registered charities HRS, Time to Help UK and Dialogue Society. This year, 388 artists from many countries of the world participated in the ‘Humanity Cartoons Competition’ with the theme ‘Our Home’ with a total of 750 works. After the preliminary selection by fine arts experts, 35 works were left to the selection of the main jury.

The jury consisting of cartoon artists Gustavo Fernando (Mexico), Ali Miraee (Iran) and Luc Descheemaeker (Belgium) selected the first 5 works. The artists who drew these cartoons were awarded a total of 3 thousand dollars. In addition to the first 5 works, 35 cartoons that passed the preliminary selection are planned to be exhibited in different countries and cities throughout the year after the Refugee Week.

The works reveal the difficult journey of asylum seekers who have to leave their countries due to war, persecution or political oppression, their search for a safe place and shelter, the troubles they experience and the rights violations they are exposed to in an artistic language.

The top 5 artists and their countries are as follows:

1. Mohammad Raei – Iran
2. Alireza Pakdel – Iran
3. Cenk Alparslan – Turkey
4. Rucke Souza – Brazil
5. Didie Sri Widiyanto – Indonesia

‘Kimse Yok Mu’ organised the first competition

The competition was first organised in 2016 by the Turkey-based humanitarian aid organisation ‘Kimse Yok Mu’. However, following the coup attempt on 15 July that year, ‘Kimse Yok Mu’, like hundreds of other organisations, was unlawfully shut down by a Decree Law (KHK).

That year, the winning works were not even allowed to be exhibited in Turkey. The selected works could only be exhibited in Athens, Greece, in April 2016. Subsequently, the organisation’s director and many of its staff became refugees. HRS and Time to Help UK decided to continue the competition 7 years later and organised the second edition in 2023 and the third edition this year.

Humanity Cartoons Addresses:
Website: www.humanitycartoons.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/humanitycartoon
Twitter: www.twitter.com/humanitycartoon

The 3rd International Immigration Cartoon Competition by HRS, Time to Help, and Dialogue Society is underway, aiming to raise awareness. The 3rd International Immigration Cartoon Competition organised by Human Rights Solidarity, Time to Help UK and Dialogue Society has started. The competition called ‘Humanity Cartoons’ has been announced on the relevant platforms and some artists have already submitted their works. The competition will remain open until 15 May and the winning cartoonists will be awarded a total of 3,300 USD. The results of the competition will be made public in early June.

The competition focuses on raising awareness and inspiring reflection on the plight of migrants through cartoon art. Participants are encouraged to be 16 years of age or older and to submit original and creative cartoons that specifically address the challenges faced by migrants.

Migration and asylum are among the most important topics of discussion in the world today. Migration flows from East to West and from South to North are increasing exponentially every year. Last year, around 80,000 people applied for asylum in the UK. According to the UN report, more than 110 million people were forcibly displaced by the end of 2023.

3 organisations working on behalf of humanity are organising this competition to draw attention to this important issue through the vast and expressive language of art. The winning entries will be exhibited during Refugee Week in June and at other times across the UK. This raises public awareness about the reality of migrants and refugees. The winning entries from last year’s competition were exhibited in London, Newcastle and Oxford and attracted considerable attention.

For more information about the competition, please click here.

Winning cartoons from ‘2nd Int’l Migration Cartoons Competition’ by HRS and Time to Help UK exhibited in London’s key locations. The winning works of the ‘2nd International Migration Cartoons Competition’ organised by Human Rights Solidarity (HRS) and Time to Help UK were exhibited in important centres of London. 20 of the works titled ‘Humanity Cartoons’ were presented to the attention of the public in an interactive open-air exhibition held one week apart, first in Pancras Square and then in Trafalgar Square.

The exhibition, which drew attention to one of the most important agendas of the world, migration and immigration, remained in the square for more than 2 hours each. HRS and Time to Help volunteers explained the problems faced by refugees and migrants to the crowd viewing the exhibition and answered questions.

Each of the works emphasises the reasons why migrants leave their countries, the difficult conditions they are in and the human rights violations they are exposed to. They also criticise countries and institutions that make the lives of migrants more difficult instead of trying to solve the problems.

Our statement about the exhibition titled ‘Humanity Cartoons’ is as follows:

Humanity Cartoons is a joint project of Time to Help and Human Rights Solidarity. These are two registered charities in England and Wales. Time to Help is active in humanitarian aid; and Human Rights Solidarity works on human rights. Immigration and asylum is an issue where these two areas of charitable work come together.

Immigration and asylum are among the most important topics of discussion in the world today. The migration flow from East to West and from South to North is growing exponentially every year. Last year, approximately 80.000 people have applied for asylum in the UK. According to a UN report, more than 108 million people were forcibly displaced by the end of 2022.

This mobility brings with it economic, social and political problems. People who leave their countries at the risk of death face brand new problems in the countries they think of as ‘safe harbours’. Some are arrested, some deported and yet others lose their mental health within years of uncertainty imposed on them.

By using the language of art, we want to raise social awareness about this vital issue and contribute to the solution of this human tragedy. For this purpose, 768 artists from many countries submitted 1,278 works to the cartoon competition on ‘migration and immigration’. The wonderful cartoons you see here have been selected from these drawings.

Each of the works emphasises the reasons why migrants leave their countries, the difficult conditions they live in and the human rights violations they are exposed to. As people living in peace and prosperity, we have to think about them. Like every human being, they have the right to live freely. We should extend all kinds of helping hands to them and create the safe living conditions they need. The United Kingdom must be welcoming refugees.

The winning entries of the ‘2nd International Migration Cartoons Competition’ organised by HRS and Time to Help are on display. On Friday 8 September, 25 of the cartoons we call ‘Humanity Cartoons’ will be presented to the public at Pancras Square in London. You can see the cartoons drawn by important artists from different countries between 3.00-5.00 PM. The same exhibition will be on display in Trafalgar Square on Sunday 17 September.

These cartoons draw attention to the issue of ‘immigration’, which is among the most important agendas of the world, and aim to raise awareness about the violations of rights.

There are many migrants living in the UK and the number of asylum applications to the country is increasing every day. People who are looking for a safe place just to survive and who leave their countries at the risk of death face very serious difficulties.

As people living in peace and prosperity, we cannot ignore these migrants in difficult situations. Like every human being, they have the right to live and work. Being aware of this, we should extend a helping hand to migrants and provide the safe living conditions they seek.

With these feelings, we invite you to see the cartoons that illustrate the difficulties of migrants very well and to think about the solution of the problems.

Meet us at Pancras Square on Friday at 3.00pm.

‘Have Breakfast and Learn British History’ project, which we will realise with funding from Greater London Authority, starts this month. This activity, which is implemented within the scope of ‘Community Support and Integration Project’, includes asylum seekers, refugees and migrants and will start in August 2023.

Welcome to the ‘Breakfast, Walk and Learn British History’ project, a transformative initiative under the GLA Building Strong Communities Programme. 

Our goal is to provide asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants in Greater London, who face financial hardship and social isolation due to the high cost of living, with an enriching and inclusive experience.

 Project Ambition: The overarching ambition of this project is to support and integrate asylum seekers and refugees in Greater London, empowering them to overcome challenges associated with social isolation and financial constraints. We aim to create a warm and welcoming environment in central London, where participants can have a nutritious breakfast, engage in social interactions with their peers, and delve into the rich tapestry of British history. By fostering a sense of community and enhancing their understanding of the country they now call home, we aspire to facilitate personal and social development among the participants.

 Significance to Our Organization: At our organization, we believe in providing equal opportunities for personal growth and social development to all members of society, regardless of their backgrounds or circumstances. We recognize that asylum seekers and refugees often face unique hardships when adapting to a new culture, language, and way of life. Through this project, we aim to mitigate some of their challenges by offering a safe, inclusive, and educational space for learning and social connection.

 Inspiration and Development: The idea for “Breakfast, Walk and Learn British History” originated from conversations with members of the local immigrant communities who expressed their desire for more opportunities to socialize and learn about their new home. Financial constraints often hinder asylum seekers and refugees from participating in regular activities, leading to increased feelings of loneliness and isolation. We identified the need for an accessible and low-cost initiative that brings people together and fosters a sense of community.

 Project Activities: The “Breakfast, Walk, and Learn British History” project will unfold over ten months and will consist of the following activities:

 1. Monthly 2-hour Breakfast Sessions and Community Gathering: These sessions will provide participants with a nutritious breakfast and a welcoming environment for socializing and connecting with others.

 2. Monthly 3-hour Talk, Regular Guided Walks in the Local Area, and Learning Sessions about British History: Engaging and interactive sessions will delve into the historical, cultural, and social aspects of Britain, fostering curiosity and encouraging active participation. Participants will have the opportunity to explore their surroundings, engage in physical activity, and connect with nature.

  Project Timeline:

August 2023:

• Date: Last Saturday of the month (August 26th)
• Time: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
• Venue: HRS Headquarter @ Trafalgar Square

September 2023:

• Date: Last Saturday of the month (September 30th)
• Time: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
• Venue: HRS Headquarter @ Trafalgar Square

October 2023:

• Date: Last Saturday of the month (October 28th)
• Time: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
• Venue: HRS Headquarter @ Trafalgar Square

And so on for the next 7 months until June 2024, following the same pattern of the last Saturday of every month.

May 2024:

• Date: Last Saturday of the month (May 25th)
• Time: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
• Venue: HRS Headquarter @ Trafalgar Square

Please note that the dates are subject to adjustments based on public holidays or unforeseen circumstances. The project will run for a total of 10 months, concluding in May 2024, providing consistent opportunities for asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants to benefit from this enriching experience and support their integration into the Greater London community.

 Join us on this journey of empowerment and integration! Together, we can build stronger communities and foster a sense of belonging for all individuals in Greater London. Let’s make a positive impact on the lives of those who need it the most.

 Project Registration: “Breakfast, Walk and Learn British History”

Who can apply?

 You may be eligible to participate in the “Breakfast, Walk and Learn British History” project if the following criteria apply:

• Residency in London: Applicants must be residents of Greater London and able to provide valid address proof as evidence of their London residence.

• Immigrant Status: Individuals with immigrant status, including dependents, asylum seekers, refugees, visa holders, or those with other approved pathways, are welcome to apply.

Register Now

Our free basketball school we organised with the aim of making the lives of immigrant and refugee youth easier begins. The basketball school, which we initiated in order to facilitate the lives of migrant and refugee youth and contribute to their adaptation to the country, is starting. ‘Hoops for Hope: Empowering Refugee and Immigrant Youth Through Basketball’, we will provide basketball courses to 100 immigrant youth living in London for 10 months.

The project will start in July 2023 and end in May 2024, during which time participating young people will receive basketball training at least twice a month. 2-day basketball camp will be organised during the Human Rights week in December. All trainees will be offered meals on training days. In addition, travelling expenses and sportswear will be provided for a certain number of students who cannot afford it.

Hoops for Hope: Empowering Refugee and Immigrant Youth Through Basketball is a new project aimed at supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged youth immigrants living in Greater London. Our focus is on providing basketball sessions that will help them to overcome barriers to accessing relevant services, reducing social isolation, and improving their physical and mental well-being.

We have extensive experience working with immigrant communities and have observed that many youth immigrants are struggling with a lack of social interaction and sports activities, resulting in social isolation and health problems. Many of them are also facing financial constraints or a lack of connection with their community, which limits their ability to access relevant services and opportunities.

We have been helping vulnerable and poor asylum seekers and immigrants who contacted us to seek help upon their advocacy, community and social needs, and legal process. We observe that many immigrant youth are struggling with a lack of social interaction and sports activities. As a result, many are experiencing social isolation and health problems. We are receiving inquiries from their parents who would like to have opportunities for engaging in social activities such as sports and social gathering.

The project will run for 10 months starting in July 2023 and will consist of supervised basketball sessions and two intensive basketball camps during refugee and human rights weeks. Our focus is on serving youth immigrants from Greater London, especially those living in highly populated, diverse, deprived, and multi-religious parts of Enfield, Westminster, Haringey, Harrow, Barnet, and Brent.

The beneficiaries of our project will be youth immigrants who are facing social and economic challenges, including a lack of access to relevant services and opportunities for social interaction and sports activities. By participating in our basketball sessions, these youth immigrants will have the opportunity to improve their physical and mental well-being, make friends, and become more engaged with their local community.

The impact of our project will be significant, as it will help to reduce existing structural inequalities and future social issues for immigrant communities. By providing a safe and supportive environment for youth immigrants to participate in basketball, we aim to improve their self-esteem, confidence, and social skills, which will have positive ripple effects in their personal and professional lives.

Through this project, we also aim to promote social inclusion and foster a sense of community among youth immigrants living in Greater London. By connecting them with each other and with local resources, we hope to help them feel more integrated and supported, thus contributing to a more cohesive and resilient society.

Project Registration: “Hoops for Hope: Empowering Immigrant Youth Through Basketball

Register Now