Swindon comes together to make town more welcoming for refugees
Refugees, asylum seekers, businesses and the Council are working together to agree how to make Swindon a more welcoming place for people seeking refuge.
Published: Friday, 31st January 2025

Refugees, asylum seekers, businesses and the Council are working together to agree how to make Swindon a more welcoming place for people seeking refuge.
Swindon Borough Council is working with representatives from the local community to develop improvements in the way the town welcomes people seeking sanctuary. As part of its mission to build a fairer Swindon, the Council has committed to becoming a more open and inclusive town, where people can learn from, and share the voices and needs of those looking for refuge.
Last night (30 January) local businesses such as, Swindon Community Computing, Create Studios, The Harbour Project, Swindon 105.5 and local refugees met to discuss how Swindon can become an officially-accredited Borough of Sanctuary.
Swindon is already a diverse town, which continues to welcome those from displaced backgrounds, including almost 300 Ukrainians and more than 120 refugees from Afghanistan.
The Borough of Sanctuary is a collection of councils and community groups dedicated to offering support to those who have moved to the UK to seek sanctuary from their unsafe homes.
At the event, the Council’s Warm Welcome team shared the experiences of refugees across Swindon. When coming to Swindon, many experienced issues with language barriers, leaving their loved ones behind, finding a new job, a place to live and their place in the community.
Yasev Yosupi, who fled Afghanistan with his family after the Taliban took control, shared his story. “I lost everything including my home and my safety, when the Taliban took over. I was granted sanctuary in the UK, which I was grateful for. But, I had a very hard time. I was in shock from losing my country and had to get used to life in the UK when I moved to Swindon.
“I am grateful for the support from Swindon Borough Council. It was great to know that I was not alone. They helped with everything, from learning English to support finding a job. I am now studying at University, which is amazing. So thank you to everyone who helped me”.
Freya Miles from Swindon Community Computing, who attended yesterday’s first meeting offers computer training workshops and general IT help, available for all residents, including those seeking sanctuary in the Borough. She said: "Swindon Community Computing helps repair computers and then installs free, lightweight software, before donating to local residents who need them.
“As an organisation dedicated to improving the lives of local residents, we attended the Borough of Sanctuary event to see how we can support those seeking asylum within the town. It was great to hear the work that has been happening across Swindon so far, plans for the future and how a wide range of different and diverse organizations can get onboard.
“For us, we provide tech support which is particularly useful for those who can’t afford IT support. It is our aim to address important issues - poverty, liberty, education, privacy, and plastic pollution / e-waste. If anyone is interested, come along to one of our drop-in sessions, which are on Thursday afternoons (2-5pm) and Friday Mornings (10am-12am) at Swindon Hub (SN1 1BA)”
Shahina Johnson MBE, CEO of Create Studios, also attended. She said: “Create Studios is a social enterprise that’s been part of Swindon over 40 years. Alongside our film production and training delivery we are proud to have offered regular cultural projects that celebrate the diversity of our town and have welcomed sanctuary-seeking participants within all of those.
“We are proud that Swindon is moving towards Borough of Sanctuary status, reflecting a long history of support and welcome to newcomers that has built the success and strength of our town”.
Councillor Emma Bushell, Deputy Leader of Swindon Borough Council said: “We want Swindon to be an inclusive town, where people can be proud to live, work, study and play, including those seeking refuge.
“This event is an exciting start to our journey to working with partners and local residents to ensure we are as welcoming as we possibly can be.
“We have already helped more than 420 new residents from displaced backgrounds and I look forward to seeing the ongoing work of partners, residents and local businesses to become a Borough of Sanctuary as part of our mission to build a fairer Swindon.”