Lucy talks to ‘Ahmed’, an asylum seeker from Afghanistan who worked for NATO until 2021. He explains why he fled his country and what sustains him in his quest for safety as he navigates the UK’s cruel, hostile environment policies. Follow the links below to find out more about Afghanistan and the challenges Afghan refugees face in finding safety i…

Lucy talks to Tonya Mavri about her work with children and families for Caris Haringey and her memories of growing up in Tottenham in the 1980s and 1990s. Please visit Caris Haringey to find out more and consider donating here. Follow the links below to find out more about the issues and organisations mentioned in this podcast . To learn more about…

Welcome to Season 2 of No Small Victories! In this first episode , Lucy speaks to Rossana Leal, Founder and CEO of The Refugee Buddy Project and a refugee who arrived in Britain from Chile in the 1970s. Recorded at the end of 2023, fifty years after the violent right-wing Chilean coup toppled Salvador Allende's democratic government and brought a 1…

In this episode, we remember the remarkable but tragic life of Sharif Barko, long term resident of Haringey, friend and supporter of Haringey Welcome, and a Sudanese refugee from Darfur’s Massaleit community, who was tragically killed on a family visit to Darfur in January 2021. Through Sharif’s story we explore the wider context of conflict and ge…

Lucy speaks to Mavis, a single mum, author, campaigner, and migrant, about coming to the UK from Jamaica as a teenager and living for decades with insecure immigration status, navigating rules and systems such as ‘no recourse to public funds’ and the ‘ten-year route’. Mavis explains how she eventually found her power and her voice and the courage t…

Lucy speaks to Mulugeta, Resettlement Support Worker at Haringey Council, about his experience of growing up in war-torn Eritrea, of travelling for two years in search of sanctuary, and finally of enduring the challenges of the UK’s hostile asylum system. Mulugeta shares his love of education and commitment to community development, which have allo…

Lucy speaks to Abdulrahman Bdiwi, Lived Experience Involvement Officer at Breaking Barriers, about his experience of starting a new life in Britain after coming here via the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme. In a remarkably honest and revealing conversation, Abdulrahman describes the many challenges he and his family have lived through…

Lucy speaks to Revd Matt Lunn, Minister at Muswell Hill Methodist Church, about how, together with Rabbi David Mason of Muswell Hill Synagogue, he set up Muswell Hill Welcomes, a support initiative for asylum seekers and refugees in the area. Follow the links below to find out more about Muswell Hill Methodist Church and Muswell Hill Welcomes. To l…

Lucy speaks to Dr Latefa Guemar about her personal and professional experience of the UK’s asylum and immigration system. They discuss Latefa’s forthcoming book, Algerian Women and Diasporic Experience (September 2023). You can find out about the UK’s complex asylum and immigration system and other topics mentioned by Latefa by following the links …

Lucy speaks to Alison Davy about Community Cook Up in Northumberland Park and its ethos: solidarity not charity. They talk about the importance of providing a safe, friendly environment for people to meet and about the magic food offers to bring people together. You can find out more about the Community Cook Up by following the links below. To lear…

Lucy speaks to Joel from Haringey Anti-Raids about the development of the Anti-Raids Network and their activities in Haringey. How can immigration raids be resisted and what rights do those being targeted have? They also discuss plans to protest removal of asylum seekers from a Haringey hotel to the notorious Napier Barracks. The protest took place…

Leyla Laksari, CEO of Living Under One Sun in Tottenham, tells Lucy about her arrival in the UK from Iran in 1976, her work with migrant communities and the importance of collective space, friendship and belonging. They discuss how land, food and creativity can foster wellbeing, how much we can learn from each other and why we are stronger together…

Lucy speaks to Jessica Potter, Consultant at North Middlesex University Hospital, about the right to health and dignity for all. They discuss why the Hostile Environment is so detrimental to our collective wellbeing and how racism is corroding the UK’s public health provision. You can find out more about health-focused organisations campaigning for…