Rethink Rebuild Society, along with 225 local groups from across the UK, is signing an open letter today (5 December) to the Home Secretary to express their opposition to her ‘harsh new plans that threaten refugee rights.’
The letter is part of a week-long initiative called ‘Communities Together for Refugees,’ which kicks off nationwide today. The initiative is being organized in collaboration with local communities and Together With Refugees.
The letter, in response to the government’s ‘Restoring Order and Control’ plans announced on 17 November, reads: “Every day we see people stepping up—opening their homes, volunteering their time, speaking out for fairness, and supporting each other. We know your cruel new plans do not reflect our values, our communities, or the true spirit of this country.”
It concludes: “We—communities across the UK—stand united in rejecting your plans. This is not the time to fuel division between local communities and refugees. It is the time to focus on what unites us, to find common ground, and to show humanity to those who have already endured so much.”
Haytham Alhamwi, Manager at Rethink Rebuild Society, who signed the letter, stated: “We are proud to join with other groups across the country in telling the Home Secretary that we reject her harsh plans. Every day we witness the compassion and support refugees receive in our community. Many locals open their homes, donate their time, and contribute because they believe refugees deserve care and support.”
He added, “That’s why, this weekend, we stand with refugees with respect, dignity, and hope.”
With 80% of the British public supporting an asylum system that is fair, well-managed, and compassionate, the ‘Communities Together for Refugees’ week of action offers an opportunity for communities to celebrate their commitment to kindness, unity, and safety.
In response to anti-refugee displays, local communities across the UK are joining forces to show solidarity with refugees who have been forced to flee their homes due to war and persecution.
Over 30 actions are planned across towns and villages in the UK, including Christmas markets, street stalls, craft sessions, musical performances, and food events. Additionally, 10,000 posters with the message ‘We Stand Together with Refugees’ will be displayed in windows nationwide—on homes, community centers, places of worship, and businesses.
Anyone wishing to participate and show solidarity with refugees this weekend can print and display their own posters.
The full letter and signatories:
Dear Home Secretary
In communities up and down the country, we are proud to show warmth and kindness to refugees. Every day we witness people stepping up - opening their homes, volunteering their time, speaking out for fairness and supporting one another. We know that your cruel new plans do not represent us, our communities or who we are as a country.
You said it was a moral mission to resolve division. We agree. The responsibility to end the divisive politics, racist rhetoric and demonising language of the past lies with all political leaders. Your ruthless new plans to erode refugee rights and the harmful language used by politicians in recent weeks will only feed the hostility in our communities. They send a message to those of us who have sought safety here, as well as our neighbours, colleagues, friends, and families, that refugees will never be truly welcome.
We know, given the chance, refugees do so much to enrich our communities. From our high streets to our hospitals, from our schools to our community spaces, Britain is stronger because of people who’ve come here seeking safety.
People who have fled the horror of war and persecution, suffering terrible trauma, need support to heal and rebuild their lives. Instead, this Government is choosing cruelty over compassion.
We - communities across the UK - are standing together to reject your plans. Now is not the time to play into the hands of those seeking to build division between local communities and refugees. Now is the time to focus on what unites us, find common ground and offer our humanity to people who have already suffered enough.
Full list of signatories below (names of signatories and 6 organisations have been redacted for security reasons)
Abergavenny Town of Sanctuary
Abigail Housing
Action Foundation (Refugee Support Charity, Newcastle)
Active Horizons
African Caribbean Support Organisation Northern Ireland
African Community Centre
All Of Us
Amour Destiné
Angels of Freedom CIC
ARC Stockton Arts Centre
Asylum Link Merseyside
Asylum Seeker and Refugee Support Network St Thomas Church Lancaster
Asylum Welcome
Barnsley Borough City of Sanctuary
barter'd
Bath Campaigns Network
Bath Islamic Society Ltd
Bath University Left Union (BULU)
Bath Welcomes Refugees
BEACON (Bradford Ecumenical Asylum Concern)
Bicycle Links CIC
Big Leaf Foundation
Birmingham City of Sanctuary
Birmingham Community Hosting Network
Birmingham Justice and Peace Commission
Borderlands South West
Bradford City of Sanctuary
Bristol & Bath Freedom from Torture local Supporters' Group
Bristol Defend the Asylum Seekers Campaign
Bristol NEU
Bristol Refugee Rights
Bristol Trades Council
Bromsgrove and Redditch Welcome Refugees
Budleigh Syrian Community Sponsorship
Bury Fairtrade
Calais Light
Calderdale Valley of Sanctuary
Cambridge Convoy Refugee Action Group
Cambridge Refugee Resettlement Campaign
Care4Calais Coventry and Warwickshire
Care4Calais Heathrow
Care4Calais Liverpool
Care4Calais Manchester
Care4Calais North East
Care4Calais Oxford
Care4Calais Scotland
Care4Calais Thames Valley
Caritas Archdiocese of Southwark
Caritas Salford
Carlisle One World Centre
Carlisle Refugee Action Group
ChangeMakers
Circular Social
City of Sanctuary Sheffield
CLEAR Project
Climate Action Hub Exeter
Community Integration and Advocacy Centre (CIAC)
Company of Others
Connection Support
Coventry Asylum & Refugee Action Group (Carag)
Coventry Stand up to Racism
Creative Youth Network
Crossroads Community Hub
Cultures in Unity Training and Development
Cumberland Sanctuary Network
Darlington Assistance for Refugees
Derbyshire Refugee Solidarity
Devon Lobbying Group
Doncaster Conversation Club
Eastbourne Greenpeace
Eastbourne Solidarity
Education 4 all 23
Elmbridge CAN
Ely Refugee Resettlement Campaign
Epsom & Ewell Refugee Network
Esolperth English Language Lessons
Evesham Vale Welcomes Refugees
Exeter Community Alliance
Exeter Respect CIC
Extinction Rebellion Exeter
Falmouth and Penryn Welcome Refugees
Father Hudson's Caritas
Fences & Frontiers
forRefugees
Forth Valley Welcome
Freedom from Torture Edinburgh Local Group
Freedom From Torture Birmingham Group
Freedom from Torture Manchester Support Group
Freedom from Torture North London Supporters Group
Freedom from Torture Oxford Local Group
Friends of Scottish Settlers (FOSS Falkirk)
Gilded Lily Inspiring Enterprise CIC
Global Link
Govan Community Project
Greater Manchester Fairtrade Network
GreenNet
Greenpeace Birmingham
Greenpeace St Albans
Greenwich Cricket CIC
Haringey Migrant Support Centre
Hastings City of Sanctuary
Hastings Supports Refugees
Hay, Brecon and Talgarth Sanctuary for Refugees
Heart4Refugees CIC
Herts for Refugees
Herts Welcomes Refugees
Highbury Vale Blackstock Trust
Hope Projects
Host Nation
Humans of Wolverhampton
Islington Faiths Forum
Just Shelter
Katherine Low Settlement
Kehillah North London
Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN)
Leeds Asylum Seekers Support Network
LegalAliens Theatre
Lewes Refugee Support Group
Lifeline Options CIC
Manchester Amnesty International
Manchester City of Sanctuary
Manchester Community Central
Marketing Communities CIC
Mary Thompson Fund
merl
Merseyside Refugee Support Network
Merseyside Solidarity Knows No Borders
Methodist Central Hall Manchester
Minority Inclusion Front (MIF UK)
Network Against Occupation
New Horizon Youth Centre
No More Exclusions
Norwich City of Sanctuary
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum
Oldham Unity
One Community Link
Open Door North East
Oxfordshire Homeless Movement (OHM)
Pan Intercultural Arts
PERN (Penrith and Eden Refugee Network)
Poetic Justice Group
Portsmouth City of Sanctuary (PCoS)
Preston City of Sanctuary
RADAR (Rochdale Action with Destitute Asylum seekers and Refugees)
RAIS Lancaster
RAY (Refugee Action York)
Rebelliousknitsandcrochet
Refugee Action Kingston
Refugee Futures
Refugee Resource
Refugee Support Devon
Refugee Support Europe
Refugee Welcome Homes
Refugee Women of Bristol
Restore, a project of Birmingham Churches Together
Rethink Rebuild Society
RSA Devon and Exeter
Salford Community Upskilling
Salusbury World
Sanctuary on Sea
Scotswood Garden
Scottish Detainee Visitors
Shropshire Supports Refugees
Simon Community Scotland
Sisters of St Joseph of Peace
Skipton Refugee Support Group
Solace Surviving Exile and Persecution
Southampton Action
Southampton and Winchester Visitors Group (SWVG)
Southampton Greenpeace
Sri Lankan Community
St Augustine's Centre
St Nicholas of Tolentino Catholic Church
Stand and Be Counted Theatre Ltd
Stand Up To Racism Nuneaton
Stand Up To Racism South Devon
STAR (Student Action for Refugees) Bristol
Stockport Refugee Support Group
Stories of Hope and Home
Sudafest CIC
Suffolk Refugee Support
Sussex Interpreting Services
Tai Pawb
Tees Valley of Sanctuary
The Hummingbird Refugee Project
The Margins Project
The Refugee Buddy Project Hasting Rother and Wealden
The Separated Child Foundation
The Seven Bridges
The Springfield Project
The University of Bath Islamic Society
The VOICES Network
Through the Cracks
Toxteth Women’s Centre
Trans Pride Exeter
Trinity Safe Space
Ubuntu Women Shelter
Union Chapel
University of Bath Stands with Palestine
Vauxhall Community Law & Information Centre
Volunteering Bradford
Walking With In North Tyne side
Waltham Forest Migrant Action
Warrington Asylum Seeker & Refugee Support Group
Waterloo Community Counselling
Welcome Group Halesowen
Welcome Here Stratford-upon-Avon
West Cornwall Against Racism
West Cumbria Refugee Support Network
West End Refugee Service
West London Welcome
West Suffolk Greenpeace Group
Women Asylum Seekers Together
Women Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Migrants (WARM)
Women's Support Project
Worcester City Welcomes Refugees
Wycombe Refugee Partnership
YAHYA’s International Hub
About Together with Refugees
Together With Refugees is the largest pro-refugee coalition in British history with more than 600 member organisations, from grassroots and refugee-led groups to international development charities and trade unions. With 80% of the British public wanting an approach to the asylum system that is well managed, fair and compassionate, the coalition also has a growing network of committed people getting organised and taking action to influence their MPs in constituencies across the country. The coalition is calling for a fair new plan for refugees that upholds the UK’s commitment under international law to the right to claim asylum, provides a proper strategy for welcoming refugees, and forges stronger global cooperation to tackle the root causes that force people to flee their homes and provides positive solutions when they do, including through safe routes to refugee protection. Find out more at togetherwithrefugees.org.uk and @RefugeeTogether on X and @RefugeesTogether on Instagram and BlueSky.
