What is the project?

DPIA’s Refugee and Asylum Seeker Advocacy Forums are a space for refugees and asylum seekers to discuss their experiences and opinions on issues such as Healthcare, Housing, Education and Asylum Support. We invite relevant organisations to come and join us so that through hearing these voices they can better understand how they may improve their services.  

When was it set up and who pays for it?

The Advocacy Forums were first set up in the early 2010s when the need for Refugee and Asylum Seeker voices to be better heard was recognised. 

The forums are currently funded as part of the Asylum Rights Programme, a partnership of seven organisations who have been funded by the Welsh Government to promote and ensure the rights of people seeking asylum in Wales. This funding has been guaranteed until March 2021. 

These forums are only possible due to the hard work and dedication of our ‘Advocacy Champions’, a team of volunteers who themselves are from Asylum seeking and refugee backgrounds. Our volunteers not only help with the practicalities of running forums, but are a key part of steering and guiding discussion and putting key questions to invited guests.  

What has it achieved?

Since 2015, over 148 individuals have attended and taken part in our advocacy forums.