Migrants, Refugees & Asylum seekers
The government is turning its back on the displaced, but hope remains thanks to a passionate group of activists
71 Sam Pordale, 23 and Angel Nakhle, 20
YOUNG CHANGEMAKERS
Pordale and Nakhle (pictured above) are both volunteers with Student Action for Refugees (STAR). Pordale is a member of an English teaching programme in the organisation, as well as STAR’s Youth Club, where he goes to migrant centres and provides emotional support, alongside maths and English tutoring. Pordale and Nakhle are part of the campaign at Warwick University to join the Lift The Ban coalition and are youth advocates for Refugee Education UK (REUK). They are members of the STAR Mentoring Program partnership with UCAS, helping asylum seekers with their university applications.
star-network.org.uk
72 Bridget Chapman
Chapman is a Labour councillor in the Kent coastal town of Folkestone who advocates for fairer asylum systems and safer routes for refugees. While Chapman has only worked in local government since 2023, her campaigning has spanned more than 15 years, and she is firmly dedicated to hyper-local action to make Folkestone a more connected and welcoming community. Through her work, Chapman puts herself in the firing line for far-right trolls on social media. Her nominator wrote: “Most of us feel that we can’t change systems, we just mitigate against the worst failings at a local level. Chapman is shaping her community. She takes time to talk to people about their perspectives and help them understand where she is coming from.”
@BridgeeCee
73 Salusbury World Refugee Centre
Salusbury World was founded in 1999 in response to high numbers of newly arrived families from Kosovo and Albania who were being housed and schooled in Brent. It is the only school-based refugee charity in the UK. They run afterschool and holiday clubs, one-to-one educational guidance and support to refugee and migrant pupils, free English (ESOL) classes and heritage projects. They work from schools and Family Wellbeing Centres, spaces known and trusted by vulnerable families. Their work now supports people from all over the world.
salusburyworld.org.uk
74 Zain Hafeez
Hafeez first arrived in the UK from Pakistan at 12 years old. Now, 16 years later, he is still advocating for better living conditions for asylum seekers. Hafeez fought to be considered for resettlement, and now he campaigns for the rights of other migrants and asylum seekers. He is a community organiser and engages with MPs, shar
