As part of the Lleisiau Profiadol (Experienced Voices) project at Swansea University, SCoS volunteers with lived experience of seeking sanctuary are sharing their stories to help shape understanding and future practice. In this powerful testimony, one of our valued volunteers reflects on speaking to social work students about their journey, the realities of the asylum system, and the importance of compassion in building truly welcoming communities.

This month, I had the opportunity to speak to social work students at Swansea University about my lived experience as a person seeking sanctuary in the UK. The session was part of their university course, and it was a chance to share my journey and the challenges that many refugees and asylum seekers experience before arriving in the UK and after arriving as well.

During the talk, I spoke about my journey to the UK and my time living in Turkey under temporary protection. Life there was very difficult in many ways. We experienced racism and discrimination, and our movement was restricted. If we wanted to travel from one city to another, we needed special travel permission, which was often refused. Even moving within the same city could be challenging. We were sometimes afraid to speak our own language in public because we did not want to be criticised or treated badly. Living under temporary protection meant limited access to services and a constant feeling of uncertainty and exhaustion.

I also shared a moment from when we first arrived in the UK. After arriving in London, we travelled to Cardiff. On the train, nobody asked us questions or asked to see our identification. This was something very surprising for us. My nine-year-old son even commented on it, because we were so used to being stopped and questioned. That moment stayed in our memory because it made us feel safe and trusted.

I also spoke honestly with the students about the challenges asylum seekers face in the UK. Many people think that living in hotels is comfortable, but in reality, it can feel more like a prison than a home. Families live in one room for months or sometimes years, without privacy, without the ability to cook their own food, and without the freedom to build a normal life. People are not allowed to work, which makes many feel that they have lost their independence, confidence, and sense of purpose. Many asylum seekers are skilled, educated, and want to contribute, but they are not given the opportunity.

The asylum process is also very long and stressful. There are many interviews, long waiting periods, and a lot of uncertainty. People live for years not knowing what will happen to their future, whether they will be allowed to stay, and what will happen to their children. This uncertainty creates a lot of stress, fear, and mental health difficulties for many families.

I also spoke to the students about Swansea and how welcoming the city has been for us. We have met very kind people here, and the schools have been amazing and very supportive for our children. Swansea has truly felt like a place of safety and community for us, and organisations like Swansea City of Sanctuary play a very important role in helping people feel welcomed and supported.

The students were very engaged and asked thoughtful questions. Many of them said that they had studied asylum and migration in their courses but had never had the opportunity to speak directly with someone who had lived through these experiences. Hearing personal experiences helped them understand the human side of the system and will help them in their future careers as social workers.

I was very grateful for the opportunity to speak with the students and share my experiences, and I hope it helped them better understand the experiences of people seeking sanctuary in the UK, not just in theory, but in real life.

Interested in Sharing Your Experience?
If you would like to become a volunteer representative for the Lleisiau Profiadol project and share your experiences with students or the wider community, we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch to find out more.