Supporting Refugees & Asylum Seekers Through Community and Compassion 🌍
Rushna Miah and Zia Kiani, Directors of HAWA Multicultural Services, attended the Annual Asylum Seekers and Refugee Conference hosted by Hertfordshire County Council on Wednesday 13th May 2026.
The conference was very well attended, bringing together organisations, professionals and community groups committed to supporting asylum seekers and refugees across Hertfordshire. The event provided an important platform to discuss current challenges, future developments and collaborative approaches to improving support services.
Keynote speakers highlighted the emerging changes expected to be introduced by the Government and explored the potential impact these changes may have on asylum seekers, refugees and the organisations supporting them. The discussions reinforced the importance of partnership working, inclusion and community-led support.
One of the most powerful and inspiring parts of the conference was hearing lived experience stories directly from asylum seekers. Their journeys, resilience and personal experiences were deeply moving and served as a reminder of the importance of compassion, dignity and community support.
As an organisation that actively supports asylum seekers and refugees through projects including the Saheli Women’s Day Centre, HAWA Multicultural Services found the event extremely valuable and informative. We were also proud to have a video testimonial showcased during the conference from one of our asylum seeker volunteers who volunteers at the Saheli Day Centre, sharing the positive impact community support and volunteering has had on their journey.
Overall, the conference was a highly successful and inspiring event that strengthened connections, encouraged learning and highlighted the importance of continuing to support those seeking safety, belonging and opportunity within our communities. 💙
#HawaMulticulturalServices #AsylumSeekers #RefugeesWelcome #CommunitySupport #Hertfordshire #Inclusion #Diversity #Belonging #SaheliDayCentre #CommunityImpact #StrongerTogether #Volunteering #RefugeeSupport #Compassion #PartnershipWorking #VCFSE #SupportCommunities #HertfordshireCountyCouncil #CommunityVoices #TogetherWeCan