Government plans to force refugees to repay the cost of accommodation and support will hold people back who are trying to rebuild their lives, after they’ve had to leave everything behind.

A new report from @homelesslink.bsky.social shows a 72% increase in newly-granted refugees having to access homelessness services at day centres. homeless.org.uk/news/new-42-...

As our campaign comes to an end, hear from our youth worker Ela as she reflects on the moments of courage she sees in young people, the way they show up for one another, even when they’re carrying their own challenges.

Another immigration and asylum bill being introduced by government, and being rushed through. The Home Secretary must stop fuelling division and trying to grab headlines with announcements of cruel and inhumane policies and laws. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

We know that young people need stability and safety in order to be able to rebuild their lives - the government's policy of granting just 30 months' refugee leave takes this away, meaning that after being given the right to stay in the UK, young people can't plan for the future and feel secure.

Refugee Week may be over, but the courage of the young people we support continues every day. Hear from our CEO Paola Uccellari as she talks about the hopes young people have for the next stage of their lives — from going to college to gaining work experience and building towards their futures.

Keir Starmer’s resignation is an opportunity for the government to reset on asylum. Young people seeking sanctuary in the UK need policies that offer stability and give them the opportunity to thrive.

Today is #WorldRefugeeDay & to honour the strength and courage of people who have been forced to leave their home country, we are celebrating the courage young refugees show as they rebuild their lives, and the courage supporters show when they choose welcome in a hostile climate.

Hear from our staff as they share the everyday courage they see at Young Roots. Young people shape our work, inspire our team, and remind us all why safe and welcoming spaces matter. If their courage inspires you, donate to our Refugee Week appeal🧡 www.justgiving.com/campaign/yrc...

We recently spoke to young people at our Croydon Hub about what courage means in their lives. They told us about the people who give them strength - their friends, siblings, parents. One young person said the bravest thing they’ve done was ‘starting a new life in a new country’.

When Zara first came to the UK, she said London felt huge and scary. She was alone, with no friends or family, and had to figure out how everything worked in a new country. Zara came to Young Roots for support with her asylum claim and to meet people who understood what she was going through.

Refugee Week begins today. This year we’re celebrating courage, and we see it every day in the young people rebuilding their lives in the UK. We see it in their determination to study, work, make friends and to play a role in their new community.

When Muhammad arrived in the UK after a long and dangerous journey from Sudan, everything felt unfamiliar. He described an overwhelming sense of safety and relief — but reaching safety was only the beginning.

At our event in Parliament last month, young people shared their experiences of short notice periods when leaving asylum accommodation, the struggle to find somewhere safe to live, and the barriers they face when trying to access education.

Exciting opportunity to join Young Roots! We’re recruiting new Trustees to help guide our work with young refugees — and we’d love to hear from you. We’re especially looking for people with expertise in: • Finance (Treasurer) • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion • Fundraising (1/2)

We are pleased to see our evidence included in the independent evaluation of the 56 day move-on pilot for newly-granted refugees. The evaluation shows that all participants welcomed the extension to 56 days, that it helped reduce homelessness and that there was a cost benefit.

We are appalled to see racist and anti-migrant attacks taking place after the terrible incident in Belfast yesterday. We know that people will be feeling scared and unsafe, and very worried about what is happening in our communities.

Young people are courageously speaking out on the issues that shape their futures. At our event in Parliament, they shared their experiences of short notice periods when leaving asylum acomm, the struggle to find somewhere safe to live, and the barriers they face when trying to access education.

Courage is not always loud. Sometimes it looks like choosing welcome when others choose hate.

Hear from our Ambassador Juliet Stevenson as she reflects on the courage young people show every day. It shouldn't take courage to stand with refugees. Yet at a time of rising hate and division, standing together matters more than ever. youtube.com/shorts/z3pjI...

Let's celebrate 42 years of Volunteers’ Week! Huge thanks to our volunteers and trustees who help create safe, welcoming spaces for young people. Your courage, solidarity and support make our community what it is. We’re so grateful for you. #VolunteersWeek

Another day, another poor decision by the government on age assessment. ❌ AI facial age estimation is prone to errors, the consequences of which are too serious for the government to be gambling on this technology with. Social workers are best placed to determine age.

For the young people we work with, courage is often quiet. It can look like navigating a new system that feels overwhelming, walking into a youth club for the first time, learning a new language, or reaching out for support when everything feels uncertain.

Under the "one-in-one-out" scheme there has been an increase in the number of age-disputed children in immigration detention. Urgent change is needed to ensure the protection of children and vulnerable people. Join us, and @humansforrights.bsky.social in calling for an end to immigration detention.

💥EXCLUSIVE - BASW has written to the Home Affairs Select Committee to push for an Inquiry into the National Age Assessment Board. Enough is enough. We need an independent inquiry to scrutinise the NAAB properly, and ensure meaningful accountability and oversight of its age assessment process.

We share the concerns of @basw-uk.bsky.social about this new government proposal on age assessments. The Home Office wants to further shift responsibility for assessing age-disputed young people seeking asylum from local authorities to its own National Age Assessment Board.

We were delighted to be hosted in Westminster on Wednesday by Natasha Irons MP, who helped make the Young Roots parliamentary event possible. MPs and peers joined us to hear directly from young people about their experiences of seeking safety in the UK.

We are still buzzing from our fantastic event in parliament yesterday. We brought together young people from Young Roots and MPs and peers, so that the parliamentarians who make the laws about young asylum-seekers and refugees' lives know what those lives are actually like.

Family reunion should offer a safe route for people to rebuild their lives in a new country, away from danger. It allows refugee families to be together, and helps children and young people create a positive future.

A behind‑the‑scenes look at banner‑making ahead of our event in Parliament. Tomorrow, young people will meet MPs to talk about how policies affect their everyday lives and the changes they need to safely rebuild their futures. Their voices matter. Stay tuned for updates from the event!

At Young Roots, hope looks like community. It looks like volunteers giving their time, fundraisers backing young people’s futures, and young people supporting each other through challenges. These everyday acts of care and solidarity are the hope we see, and the hope we celebrate.

B came to the UK from Afghanistan seeking safety, but faced confusion, isolation and long periods without support. They also experienced homelessness and struggled to access basic healthcare. We helped B register with a GP, attend appointments and navigate housing during an incredibly unstable time.

The King's Speech today announced yet another asylum & immigration bill - the fifth in five years.

Volunteering, helping neighbours, welcoming newly arrived refugees into the community— small everyday acts of kindness strengthen our communities. At a time when division feels loud, hope grows through simple connection.

Since 2019 we’ve partnered with @helenbamber.bsky.social supporting young people with Casework and therapeutic care. For #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek we’re sharing O’s story. O was struggling with anxiety & feeling overwhelmed. Through out partnership they joined a 12‑week therapeutic programme

A massive shout out to some of our incredible supporters! Helena took on the London Marathon and Kathryn & her team completed the Belfast Marathon Relay. Raising over £2000 both achievements are amazing and show powerful solidarity with young people seeking safety.

Today we can see that the politics of division are on the rise, making life harder and more dangerous for people seeking safety. Our communities grow stronger when everyone feels they have a place here. If politicians won’t make refugees feel welcome, we can.

Local councillors play a vital role in creating safe, welcoming communities for people seeking sanctuary and rebuilding their lives in the UK. For young people, community and a sense of belonging can change everything.

Last week, many of the provisions of the Renters' Rights Act came into force. The young people we work with often rely on the private rented sector when they leave asylum accommodation (having been granted the right to stay in the UK) and the protections for renters that the Act includes are vital.

At our Croydon Hub, young people shared what they wish MPs understood about their experiences, speaking about belonging and the realities of seeking safety. One young person chose to share their words in this powerful way.

Caring about children's rights means caring about the rights of every child. That's why we're speaking out against new rules that put thousands of migrant and refugee children in the UK at risk of poverty, homelessness and trauma. Asylum Matters

We’re seeing more and more harmful narratives about people seeking asylum - stories that create fear instead of understanding. Young people in our community feel the impact of this every day. We’re committed to challenging this hostility and pushing for a future where compassion comes first.

Young people deserve to be part of the conversations that shape their lives. Read our thread to learn what’s changing in the asylum system and how we’re creating space for young voices to be heard.

After being granted refugee status, Mohammed experienced a period of homelessness. He was living with uncertainty at a time when he should have been able to feel more settled. Consistent support helped Mohammed get through this period of instability.

For many young people, arriving at a new service takes courage. What makes the difference is not just what is offered, but how it feels to be there. Feeling welcomed, understood, and knowing there are others who are in similar situations to you.

No one should have to face homelessness or navigate a new place alone simply because the system makes it harder to belong. Right now, young people are trying to rebuild their lives while living with instability, isolation, and uncertainty. This is where collective action matters.

Our activities offer more than something to do, they are safe spaces for young people to be themselves, build friendships, and feel part of a community. A chance to take a break from worry and stress, even for a moment. Hear more about our activities here: www.youngroots.org.uk/newsletter

We are aware of the BBC’s investigation into individuals allegedly helping people fabricate LGBTQI+ asylum claims. Read the full statement on our website:

The Government is making major changes to the asylum system that will impact the young people we work with. Refugees are now granted permission to stay in the UK for just 30 months instead of five years as was previously the case, forcing people to live with constant uncertainty and fear.

There’s something special about seeing our community take on incredible challenges for young people. This year, we have one of our supporters running the London Marathon and another group of supporters running the Belfast Relay Marathon.