The Experts By Experience Podcast

People usually receive nationality automatically at birth, either through their parents or the country they are born in. Unfortunately, not everyone can enjoy the right to acquire a nationality: discrimination against particular ethnic or religious groups or gender, transfers of territory between existing States or the emergence of new States render statelessness.

According to UNHCR, "the international legal definition of a stateless person is a person who is not considered a national by any State under the operation of its law. In simple terms, this means that a stateless person does not have a nationality of any country. Some people are born stateless, but others become stateless."

The European Network of Statelessness hosts this episode, and the panellists Zoe Gardner, Ahmad Jaber, and Sirazul Islam joined in person, and Zully joined the panel live from a cafe in Istanbul.

The panel delves into statelessness and shares their experience as a stateless person and the U.K. asylum system.

Azadeh Hosseini, the Communication & Engagement officer at Refugee Action, produced and edited this episode.

If you like to take action, fight the hostile environment and support asylum seekers, please visit ⁠⁠Refugee Action.⁠⁠

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Identifying as LGBTQ+ is criminalised in over 70 countries. In some countries, just being yourself is punishable by death. People are subjected to violence and discrimination for simply being who they are from their own communities, families or government, leaving them at risk of abuse and discrimination. They seek safety in the UK, believing that here they’ll live freely, be safe and protected. But unfortunately, for many LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, the UK is not the end of the hardship.

The panel share their experience being in the UK asylum system as LGBTQ+.

Jason is the founder and senior administrator of the Spectrum Rainbow Community social support group. His main work is social inclusiveness with the Doncaster community for their members. Hein is Refugee Action's Digital Communications Coordinator. Jessica and Reina are both members of the Spectrum Rainbow Community in Doncaster and In Time to be Out.

If you like to take action, fight the hostile environment and support asylum seekers, please visit ⁠⁠Refugee Action.⁠⁠

Follow us on ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and ⁠⁠LinkedIn.

Deporting people seeking asylum to Rwanda is a punishment for asking for help. It doesn’t prevent refugees from arriving in the UK; only safe routes will end dangerous journeys across the Channel. This cruel policy is just part of the broader set of Anti-Refugee Laws, which were passed in 2022.

This episode is hosted by Azadeh Hosseini with panellists Dr Grace Crowley, Sima (not her real name) and Omid. Dr Crowley, a psychiatrist and member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists working group on forced migration, discusses the detrimental impacts of the policy on people’s mental health alongside Sima, one of the Refugee Action’s volunteers in North West and Omid, a volunteer at the City of Sanctuary Sheffield sharing their experience of the policy’s effects on the community.

Produced and edited by Azadeh Hosseini, the Communication & Engagement officer at Refugee Action

If you like to take action and fight the hostile environment, please visit ⁠⁠Refugee Action.⁠⁠

Follow us on ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and ⁠⁠LinkedIn.

Thousands of people seeking asylum in the UK are stranded in contingency hotels with the lowest living standards; lack of proper hygiene; unedible meals which cause countless physical issues; prison-like conditions; lack of adequate safeguarding and with only £8 a week.

This episode is hosted by Azadeh Hosseini with panellists Tara Povey, Ejiro and Nihyan Khan. In this episode, Tara Povey, the Policy and Research manager at Refugee Action, discusses the recent findings in the latest report by Refugee Action about asylum hotel conditions. Alongside Ejiro and Niyhan Khan who share their first-hand experiences of living in contingency hotels.

A massive thanks to NCVO for providing us with a free podcast pod.

Produced and edited by Azadeh Hosseini, the Communication & Engagement officer at Refugee Action

If you like to take action and fight the hostile environment, please visit: ⁠Refugee Action⁠

Follow us on:

⁠Twitter⁠

⁠LinkedIn

We are approaching the end of 2022, and what a year! Invasion of Ukraine and one of the biggest refugee crises after WWII; the government's endless cruelty against refugees and people seeking safety has promoted racism, division and hate in our society; the rise of living costs.

But also, this is the year the Experts by Experience podcast was born. In the past eight months, we have tried to create a safe space for people with first-hand experience to share their stories and opinions and directly converse with the public.

We are concluding this year with a Christmas special episode that members of the EbE network and Refugee Action staff share their traditions and holiday rituals.

 This is an opportunity to learn about different traditions during the festive season and have an open conversation about other cultures. What connects us is our humanity regardless of race, faith, gender or background. We all have a story, and sharing that in a safe environment helps us better understand each other and become united.

We must remember that Christmas is not the same for everyone, especially those away from their family and loved ones.

Thank you to Ana Asatiani, the EbE coordinator at Refugee Action, for sharing the choir piece C by Francis Poulenc, sung by her daughter, Nathalia, at Manchester Cathedral on 10 December.

We wish you a happy and peaceful holiday season and a happy new year.

For more information about our work, please visit: Refugee Action

Follow us on Twitter @RefugeeAction and LinkedIn Refugee Action 

 Football brings people together and unites them. Indeed football is a universal language: it is widely spoken and has more followers than any religion. The Element of unpredictability makes football fascinating. Despite all controversies around World Cup 22, the world has come together and celebrated a month of excitement. 

This episode is hosted by Mohamed Omar with panellists  Colin Parker, Rahwa and Darlington Okpebholo Ray. They share their passion for football, football and mental health and  Football Freedom Project as a great example of a football community social development programme with and for refugees and people seeking asylum.

A massive thanks to Dr Ben Plimpton and Mental Health Foundation for providing us with a podcast room. 

Produced and edited by Azadeh Hosseini, the Communication & Engagement officer at Refugee Action

For more information about our work, please visit: Refugee Action

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Black History Month is celebrated in October in the UK. It provides an opportunity to reflect on British history, from the pain of slavery, colonisation and ongoing racism to the celebration of resilience, diversity and achievements of black people’s hope and aspirations.  It is vital to share and appreciate one's identity in order to stop one-sided or even false narratives by others. This month is the time to reaffirm the black community's contribution to our society and lives.  The EBE Network Podcast is delighted to dedicate this episode to Black History Month. We are grateful to our amazing panellists for sharing their perspectives on what Black History Month means to them.

This episode is hosted by Jason Thomas-Fournillier with panelists Catherine Lebadou, Mercy Okpebholo Ray and Darlington Okpebholo Ray.

Produced and edited by Azadeh Hosseini, the Communication & Engagement officer at Refugee Action

For more information about our work, please visit: Refugee Action

Follow us on:

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LinkedIn

Black History Month is celebrated in October in the UK. It provides an opportunity to reflect on British history, from the pain of slavery, colonisation and ongoing racism to the celebration of resilience, diversity and achievements of black people’s hope and aspirations.  It is vital to share and appreciate one's identity in order to stop one-sided or even false narratives by others. This month is the time to reaffirm the black community's contribution to our society and lives.  The EBE Network Podcast is delighted to dedicate this episode to Black History Month. We are grateful to our amazing panellists for sharing their perspectives on what Black History Month means to them.

This episode is hosted by Jason Thomas-Fournillier with panelists Catherine Lebadou, Mercy Okpebholo Ray and Darlington Okpebholo Ray.

Produced and edited by Azadeh Hosseini, the Communication & Engagement officer at Refugee Action

For more information about our work, please visit: Refugee Action

Follow us on:

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LinkedIn

People seeking asylum in the UK can only apply for the right to work after waiting for a decision on their asylum claim for over a year. Even then, the few people granted such permission can rarely work in practice because their employment is restricted to the narrow list of highly skilled professions included on the Government’s Shortage Occupation List. People are essentially banned from working whilst they wait months, often years, for a decision on their asylum claim, negatively impacting their mental and physical wellbeing. 

People who have risked everything to find safety should have the best chance to contribute to our society and integrate into their new communities. Lifting the ban on permission to work for people seeking asylum in the UK allows them to live in dignity and to provide for themselves and their families. Instead, they live on just £5.66 per day, struggling to support themselves and their families while their talents are wasted and their integration is set back.

Our panellists address the issue, sharing their experiences and proposing recommendations. This episode is hosted by Jason Thomas-Fournillier with panelists Catherine Lebadou and Maria Stephens, the Advocacy Manager at Refugee Action. 

Produced and edited by Azadeh Hosseini, the Communication & Engagement officer at Refugee Action

For more information about our work, please visit: Refugee Action

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Although there is no legal restriction on asylum seekers or refugees accessing education in the UK, refugees and people seeking asylum are experiencing shot doors when it comes to education due to a lack of adequate policy in place and confusion over their entitlements. Education is vital to gain confidence, securing employment, and integrating into society. 

In this episode, the EbEs share their experience with barriers they faced accessing education. 

This episode is hosted by Ana Asatiani, EBE Coordinator at Refugee Action; Bsmah Helmy and her son Ali; Elbagir Abubakar, EbE Assistant at Refugee Action and his daughter, Islam Abubakar; and Viktar Danilchyk

Produced and edited by Azadeh Hosseini, the Communication & Engagement officer at Refugee Action

For more information about our work, please visit: Refugee Action

Follow us on:

Twitter

LinkedIn