The Experts By Experience Podcast

In this special collaboration for Refugee Week, Refugee Action is joined by Roula Kheder (Routes to Employment Project Manager) and Wieke Vink (Head of Programmes) of the London-based social enterprise Routes. The duo from Routes talk about community as a superpower and routes to employment for women from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds. Have a listen to hear Wieke and Roula in conversation...

The rich and often overlooked aspects of Black history have deeply impacted today’s generation. In this final takeover by the RAS Voice, the panel explores the vital need to reclaim the narrative, challenging dominant histories and amplifying Black voices, challenging the Eurocentric lens through which history has been traditionally told, and amplifying the voices that have long been silenced. The...

The UK’s asylum system is in crisis—but those with lived experience are stepping up to push for real change. Lived experience groups are vital because they bring the voices of those directly impacted by the asylum system into the conversation. They challenge policies, advocate for fairer treatment, and push for meaningful change. This is the second episode in which ⁠RAS Voice⁠ takes over the EbE P...

Cultural differences enrich our communities, offering fresh perspectives and fostering creativity. By learning from each other's traditions and stories, we build more profound understanding, break down barriers, and create a more inclusive, vibrant Britain where diversity becomes our greatest strength. In this episode, RAS Voice takes over the EbE Podcast and explores the tapestry of cultural diff...

In this episode, the EbE podcast, in collaboration with Kalayaan, dives into the ongoing campaign advocating for the Right to Work (RTW) for all survivors in the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), with a focus on migrant domestic workers (MDWs). The conversation begins by unpacking the NRM, highlighting the unequal RTW provisions for MDW survivors, and exploring the background of most domestic wor...

Aamna Mohdin , a celebrated journalist and author, serves as the Guardian’s Community Affairs Correspondent, where she delves into issues of race and inequality. In this episode, the host, Azadeh Hosseini, talks with Aamna about her compelling new book, Scattered: The Making and Unmaking of a Refugee . In 2015, Aamna travelled to Calais to report from the heart of the refugee crisis. Upon returnin...

Refugees and people seeking asylum regularly face multiple layered barriers while settling in the U.K., often preventing them from flourishing in their potential and fully regaining their confidence in our society. The barriers manifest themselves on personal, social, cultural, financial and political levels. We often hear about asylum seekers and refugees 'unwillingness' to integrate and...

2023 is almost over as the second season of the Experts by Experience Podcast season. The past year was challenging for our sector, and the next year won't be easier. Regardless, our crowd is resilient and defiant and won't stop until justice prevails. For the Christmas Special episode, we invited some of our wonderful supporters to join the panel and, share their Christmas traditions and...

We are back after almost two months of summer break. In the UK, 105,522 people are living in what is called ‘asylum accommodation’. Of these, 56,029 are in what’s referred to as dispersal accommodation, and 49,493 are in temporary or ‘contingency’ accommodation in hotels. The legislation governs this are sections 98, 95, and 4 of the 1999 Immigration Act, which states that people who claim asylum...

The Experts by Experience podcast celebrates National Poetry Day with the theme of Refuge in collaboration with Forward Arts Foundation . Forward Arts Foundation is responsible for National Poetry Day, an annual mass celebration of poetry encouraging all to enjoy, discover and share poetry. As the art form’s most visible moment, it showcases how poetry adds value to society. Poems penetrate our so...

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 in...

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. B...

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) a...

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 Pol...

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...

 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   C...

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 mo...

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 mo...

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...

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 t...

15 August 2021 is one of the darkest days in the history of Afghanistan: Following the withdrawal of coalition forces, the Taliban reinstated power, the Ghani government collapsed, and Kabul fell. Thousands fled and sought refuge in other countries, including the UK.  In this special episode, the EbE Network podcast hosts two Afghan members who share their first-hand experiences with the audi...

Connectivity is a major challenge faced by refugees and people seeking asylum in the UK. As the role of technology in community life, education and interaction with the state grows, digital exclusion has become a major cause of social isolation and deprivation. Recent developments have created a ‘digital gap’. A lack of proper devices and digital literacy combined with language barriers and intern...

Employability has a direct relation with mental health. It's a known fact that unemployment and not having access to the job market has negative effects that cause depression, anxiety and loss of self-esteem.  In this episode, the panel of EbEs explore employability and its impact on refugees' and asylum seekers' mental health in line with Refugee Week 2022 theme, healing. This episode is hos...