The University of Westminster hosted a Supporting Our Refugee Students event to mark the launch of of Sanctuary at Westminster, an initiative dedicated to supporting and celebrating the University’s refugee and displaced student community. The event was organised in collaboration with the World in Westminster series as part of the University's programme for Enhancing Inclusion, Belonging and Sustainable Development at the Centre for Teaching and Innovation (CETI).
Held on 1 April on the University’s Marylebone Campus, the event kicked off with a welcome toast by Dr Natasha Ramachandran, Lecturer in Psychology, who celebrated 75 years of the Refugee Convention, a United Nations multilateral agreement that defines who a refugee is and sets out the rights of individuals who are granted asylum and the responsibilities of nations that grant asylum.
This was followed by an open art session with music and refreshments, where attendees reflected on this year’s Refugee Week theme of courage. They were invited to express their own interpretations through painting, using creativity as a way to connect cultures and experiences.
Attendees also heard insights from members of Refugee Education UK (REUK), Breaking Barriers, Westminster Citizens, Lion Voices and Seeple. Each speaker shared how they are supporting refugee and displaced students through mentoring, community organising, employability programmes, advocacy and creative expression, and offered updates on collaborative projects with the University.
The event marked the launch of Sanctuary at Westminster, an initiative which sits between the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) programme and CETI, established to champion Westminster’s long-standing mission of social mobility and inclusion. In an era of unprecedented global displacement, the group serves as a central hub to coordinate the University’s response, ensuring that students from forced migration backgrounds can access and graduate from higher education.
By uniting academic expertise, student support services and community partnerships, Sanctuary at Westminster embodies the University’s commitment to being a compassionate and socially responsible institution. The group’s work is anchored by the Westminster postgraduate Sanctuary Scholarships, which provide full tuition fee waivers and maintenance grants to students who are ineligible for standard student finance. Beyond financial aid, the group leads initiatives such as the Supporting Refugee student roundtable and partnerships with organisations like REUK, Breaking Barriers and Lion Voices. These collaborations offer bespoke career guidance, language support and mentoring, addressing the specific hurdles faced by displaced scholars.
To support the Sanctuary initiative students have established a Student Action for Refugees (STAR) group, where they will work directly with colleagues within the programme to ensure that Westminster's support services are designed by students, for students.
About the event, Dr Ramachandran said: “It was an honour to bring everyone together on 1 April. I am particularly proud to announce the establishment of the Sanctuary and our student-led STAR group. I look forward to working closely with our student leaders and colleagues to learn, embed and share our commitment to being a place of welcome for all.”
Mahmadul Choudhury, an alumnus who attended the event, added: “At this event, I experienced a real sense of inclusion and welcome, where people listened without judgement and engaged with love, affection, openness and respect. It was also encouraging to see students, colleagues and external groups coming together, building relationships across the University and beyond, so we can better support students from refugee and migrant backgrounds.”
Dr Linda Mannheim, Research Associate and Author at The Refugee Archive, added: “I really enjoyed the World in Westminster event earlier this month – it was so nice to connect with everyone focused on supporting refugee students.”
The event directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3: Good Health and Wellbeing and 10: Reduced Inequalities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Learn more about upcoming Equality, Diversity and Inclusion events at the University of Westminster.
To join the Student Action for Refugees group, please contact Dr Natasha Ramachandran.
