When I applied for the Legal Casework Volunteer opportunity at RAMFEL, I never imagined how transformative this experience would be. I was drawn to this opportunity as a result of my lived experience, academic interests and passion for human rights.

Originally, I had thought that my role might be more observational rather than hands-on. I believed that, as a volunteer, I would primarily assist with minor tasks rather than engaging directly with clients and casework. However, my experience at RAMFEL far exceeded my expectations.

What I learned
I was not only learning, shadowing and being guided by the team here, but as a volunteer, I was also actively contributing to the incredible work they are doing. 
To highlight a few incredible opportunities, I had as a volunteer, which is by no means an extensive list, I: 

• visited the Houses of Parliament for a roundtable hosted by RAMFEL which marked the one-year anniversary of the Sudan conflict and called for the urgent need for safe routes for those affected by the conflict and with clear family ties in the UK; 
  
• provided casework support to the Rough Sleeping team, working on legal research, drafting immigration applications and hosting initial appointments; 
  
• assisted with the eVisa Drop In clinics, travelling across London to work with local councils and charities to support their clients; and
  
• volunteered in RAMFEL’s Foodbank, providing food and resources to the local community, as well as drop in immigration and destitution advice and English classes. 

What I’ll take forward
At RAMFEL, I had the opportunity to apply my knowledge, skills and passions in real-world situations. Through these experiences, I gained a deeper appreciation for the complexities of the immigration system.

One of the most striking aspects was the level of responsibility I was given as a volunteer. Instead of simply observing, I was actively contributing to casework and client support. This hands-on experience was invaluable. I was also struck by the supportive and inclusive team culture. My contributions were recognised, my ideas were heard, and I was encouraged to take on new challenges.

Seeing firsthand how the immigration system impacts real people has deepened my commitment to advocacy. RAMFEL’s work, rooted in lived experience, fights for justice in a system that often feels dehumanising. My time here has shown me that even small contributions can drive meaningful change.
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Volunteering at RAMFEL has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. Whether you're an aspiring lawyer or simply want to make a difference, I highly recommend getting involved in this vital work.

 TV series, films, books and podcasts, have an amazing power to influence audiences, make them question the world we live in, and change perceptions. Maybe this is because, through these mediums we can be told stories about real human beings, which cut through attention-grabbing headlines and soulless statistics. Stories help us relate to people, feel empathy and sometime even help us to see the world in a different light.

This is why I was intrigued by Channel 4’s new series ‘Go Back To Where You Came From’, which is billed as a series challenging how British people feel about asylum seekers and migration.  The 4-part series follows six Brits with views about immigration from both sides of the divide – some highly sympathetic, and some highly critical (and unashamedly racist) – as they travel along routes frequently taken by refugees to reach the UK. In the first episode, we watch the Brits as they start their travels in either Raqqa, Syria or Mogadishu, Somalia.

Having watched the first episode of the series last week, I came away feeling saddened and frustrated. After the second episode aired yesterday, I want to explain why:

Considering that immigration is one of the most divisive and discussed topics in the UK at the moment, there has been a complete absence of voices from migrants themselves in mainstream  media. As a result, there is very little to challenge and question the constant dehumanising rhetoric we hear and read in news-cycles and in statements from politicians. How incredible would it be if Channel 4 had given this platform to migrants themselves, to share their stories, perspectives and opinions. 

Sadly, Channel 4 decided to focus on the perspective of British tourists (albeit tourists giddy with glee at insulting the places they were visiting). Perhaps Channel 4 felt that using Brits to tell the story would be the only way to get the British public interested and reach the viewing figures that could actually have an impact on public discourse. Perhaps they think that Brits think they can only relate to fellow Brits? And, realistically, maybe they are right? But by creating this series Channel 4 are giving credence to that attitude – when I think they should be challenging it.

As we follow the Brits on their journey, it makes uncomfortable, voyeuristic viewing. While episode one some moments when the Brits sat down and talked with the residents of Mogadishu and Raqqa, these moments were rare and the focus remained on the Brits. A large amount of the episode was spent from inside armoured 4x4 vehicles as the Brits ogled at their surroundings. This episode did very little to amplify voices of migrants themselves, and rather continued to recycle the same ‘us vs them’ narrative that we are constantly faced with in mainstream media.

Episode two, which aired last night, was much the same. Although there was slightly less time spent inside armoured vehicles, the focus remained unchanged—more gawking at their surroundings, more condescending descriptions of refugee camps, and only a handful of conversations with refugees themselves. These interactions felt secondary at best, and at worst, like a token gesture to create the illusion of balance.

I would say to anyone who watched the first two episodes, to keep watching, let’s see how it unfolds. But also, to seek out films, series, books and podcasts that tell stories of migration from the perspectives of the migrants and refugees themselves – of their experiences, opinions and hopes for the future. Watch and listen to them, and tell your friends and family about them. I strongly feel that it is these stories, from the people who have actually faced migration themselves, have the power to shift perceptions and make a huge change.

Below I have listed some places to start looking:

Films:
• The Story of Souleymane (2024) directed by Boris Lojkine
• Flee (2021) directed by Jonas Poher Rasmussen
• The Swimmers (2022) directed by Sally El Hosaini
• Limbo (2020) directed by Ben Sharrock

Documentaries:
• Eye Investigations Dark Waters: Africa’s Deadliest Migration Route (2024). An investigation by BBC Eye Africa reporter Mame Cheikh Mbaye
• For Sama, directed by Waad Al-Kateeb and Edward Watts
Explore the London Migration Film Festival past programmes for lots more films and documentaries: https://www.migrationcollective.com/lmff-2024 

Books:
• Little Warrior by Giuseppe Catozzela
• The Refugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen
• The Last Girl by Nadia Murad
• The Beekeeper of Alleppo by Christy Lefteri
• Asylum Speakers book, collated by Jaz O’Hara 

There are lots more books suggested by the International Rescue Committee in this article: https://www.rescue.org/uk/article/12-essential-books-about-refugee-experiences 

Podcasts:
• Refugee Stories, produced by Jessica Stone
• Asylum Speakers podcast, produced by Jaz O’Hara
• UNHCR Forced to Flee, produced by Waqas Chughtai and Barney Thompson

Last week, the Labour government introduced the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill. While the repeal of the Safety of Rwanda Act and elements of the Illegal Migration Act (IMA) is a necessary and welcome step, this Bill fails to address the issues at the heart of the UK’s asylum system. In fact, it entrenches many of the same harmful policies introduced by the previous government.

This Bill retains the expands detention powers introduced by the IMA as well as the weakened protections for survivors of modern slavery. It also continues to render asylum and human rights claims automatically inadmissible from people fleeing countries such as Albania, Georgia, and India. Instead of delivering real reform, it doubles down on a system designed to punish and exclude.

The government is prioritising border enforcement over human lives. With this new Bill people seeking safety will face even greater criminalisation, with increased surveillance, phone seizures, expanded data access, and harsher penalties. Those who attempt to assist asylum seekers face up to 14 years in prison.

Yet, despite all these punitive measures, the government has offered no safe routes for people fleeing war and persecution to seek refuge in the UK. There are no new humanitarian visas, no improved resettlement schemes, and no meaningful commitments to international protection. There is as well no expansion of the existing family reunion rules. Instead, the focus remains on so-called deterrence, detention, and deportation, showing no sign of change since the previous Conservative government.

The refusal to repeal barriers preventing victims of trafficking from accessing support and the continued detention of children further exposes this Bill for what it truly is: an extension of the Hostile Environment under a different name. Whether a Labour or Conservative government, the obsession with militarising the border and criminalising those fleeing persecution, whilst steadfastly refusing to acknowledge why people take dangerous journeys, means nothing substantive will change. More lives will be lost and people in need will continue being exploited, both in the UK and on their journeys here.

This approach is not only inhumane, but fundamentally counterproductive. The government cannot claim to be fixing the asylum system while making it even more dangerous and inaccessible. Until there is a real commitment to safe routes, fair asylum processes, and respect for international law, this Bill will only serve to create more suffering and more chaos.