This year has been challenging for everyone. The news has been dominated by COVID lockdown measures that have caused huge changes for all of us, but although we are all in the same storm we are not in the same boat. People seeking asylum have been particularly affected. The few existing safe routes were closed down, while holiday flights continued, and violent crackdowns in Calais have forced desperate people to make deadly journeys across the channel. The lockdown highlighted just how inadequate asylum housing, and the amount of money people are given to live off is. An asylum system which was already struggling and not fit for purpose now has even more people living in limbo and waiting for a decision. The Home Office announced its promise to fix the ‘broken’ asylum system - by which they mean making an already harsh system even more so. At the same time they launched an attack on 'lefty lawyers' and ‘do-gooders’, emboldening the far right to harass and terrify people. Yet, despite the challenging times we have seen the power of people and communities joining together to support each other and raising their voices to demand the government makes changes. These changes can only begin by changing the story.

This conference aims to equip any ‘do-gooder’ students with the knowledge and confidence to challenge the Hostile Environment and take practical steps to create a culture of welcome. Through workshops and keynote talks from student activists, experts and organisations on the frontline we will look at the challenges of the year ahead and figure out how, moving forward, students can change the narrative.

Guest speakers include:

• Sabir Zazai - CEO of Scottish Refugee Council
• Shrouk El-Attar - STAR trustee and former STAR leader
• Jon Cornejo - Head of Communications and Campaigner at UK Welcomes Refugees and Organiser at #CharitySoWhite
• Alexander Betts - Professor of Forced Migration and International Affairs at the University of Oxford.
• Lorna Gledhill is the Deputy Director of Asylum Matters and former STAR member.

Workshops will be hosted by:

• SBC Theatre Company, the first Theatre Company of Sanctuary!
• Owen Jones - the Head of Education and Training for HOPE not hate Charitable Trust.
• North East Solidarity and Teaching - a Newcastle University Students Union Go Volunteer project designed to educate and empower the forced migration community in the region.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Important information:

STAR conference is only open to students. We also welcome students hoping to apply to university and interested in learning about STAR, but are inhibited by their immigration status. Contact staradmin@star-network.org.uk for more information.