Main theme
Awareness-raising
Other relevant themes
Access to education, youth participation and decision-making, support for youth-led organisations, mental health
Actors involved
Young migrants aged 16–25, members of Parliament supporting equal access campaigns, and the media.
Aims
The organisation aims to fight for all young migrants in the UK to be treated equally and fairly, to end the hostile environment around immigration, and to ensure the barriers preventing full integration for migrants are removed.
Description
The organisation has a number of key projects. The main projects include ‘Let Us Learn’ which is focused on achieving equal access to higher education for young migrants; ‘Chasing Status’ which advocates for an end to the UK’s hostile environment and calls for a shorter more affordable route to settlement for long-term young migrants; and the ‘Leadership Academy’ which is aimed at equipping and developing young changemakers to affect change in society. Let Us Learn Campaign, for example, aimed to achieve equal access to higher education. The campaign was led entirely by young people who developed a 300+ community of changemakers.
We Belong also invests in young people’s mental well-being and provides countless opportunities for participation in society at large. Training is offered to young people through their bespoke leadership program and a safe space for emotional growth is fostered in a community of people with shared and collective experiences, for example through regular one-to-one meetings with an outreach officer.
Results/ Outcomes
Overall, the organisation has worked with over 1,300 young migrants, aged 16-25, providing information, support and guidance. They have mobilised over 300 young people to commit to social change by providing the tools and the platform for them to speak out about injustice. We Belong has also provided grants to assist young people, developed a CPD-accredited leadership programme and raised awareness through campaign videos, reports and the media.
The Let Us Learn Campaign, in particular, clearly demonstrates the possibilities of successful awareness campaigns run by young changemakers. This campaign succeeded in overturning government policy preventing over 2,000 long-term migrants from accessing student loans. After successfully changing government policy for student loans and ensuring equal access to higher education, the young people recognised that they had the power to create social change and have a positive impact on society.
Links to further information