When the world seems polarised, volunteering has a way of unifying people and rebuilding hope

Last summer’s riots targeted some of the most vulnerable members of our society, people seeking asylum. These attacks weren’t just shocking; they were a stark reminder of how dangerously polarised our national conversation on migration has become.

But away from the headlines, another story has been unfolding – quieter perhaps, but no less powerful. It is the story of solidarity, community and human connection. It is the story of Action Asylum, a national project that supports people seeking asylum to volunteer alongside local residents on environmental and community initiatives.

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An independent evaluation of the project, conducted by the University of Nottingham and published this year, shows how volunteering together is helping to rebuild fractured trust and create the conditions for meaningful integration. 

Over 2,600 people have taken part in the project across seven UK cities, contributing more than 65,000 hours of volunteering. These are not just statistics; they are acts of dignity, purpose and mutual respect.

The riots of July and August 2024 cast a long shadow. Many Action Asylum volunteers both local residents and those seeking asylum were directly affected by the hostility. 

For a brief time, project activities were paused. But what followed was remarkable. Volunteer numbers quickly rebounded. In some cities, they even rose.

That response speaks volumes. As the evaluation report notes, the high number of volunteers that month “may indicate a positive reaction to what happened… a tangible way for local British people to
show solidarity”.

Read more:

• A legacy of tragedy: What has changed one year on from the Southport killings?
• Closure of pubs and parks created a ‘tinderbox’ for far-right riots, research says: ‘Hate can fill the void’
• Community leaders come together to prove city is a place of love, unity and welcomes asylum seekers

We often hear debates about “integration” framed in terms of policy of numbers, targets and borders. But integration is not simply about physical presence; it’s about participation, belonging and recognition. The Action Asylum model shows that people don’t integrate through being talked about, but by being actively involved in shaping the places they live.

When you’re denied the right to work and given just £7 a day in asylum support, volunteering is often the only route to regain purpose. But it’s more than a distraction. It’s a lifeline to structure, confidence and self-worth. It offers a sense of being needed. And it creates relationships, the foundation of any cohesive society.

The report also highlights the benefits for local communities. Many residents who volunteer with the programme had never met a refugee before. Their views were shaped by headlines, political rhetoric or silence. 

But when people work together planting trees, clearing parks, cleaning beaches, at community events
barriers come down. The “other” becomes a neighbour, a teammate, a new friend.

That’s why the report calls for more support, not just for Action Asylum, but for projects like it across the UK. Crucially, it calls for a shift in how we measure integration. Not just by English test scores or job outcomes, but by social connection, mutual respect and mental wellbeing.

As one volunteer said, reflecting on his journey, “You’re not looking at a refugee. You are looking at a volunteer, who is a refugee.”

As shared in the report, 75% of the UK public support the principle of offering refuge to people fleeing war and persecution. And when asked whether refugees make a positive contribution to this country, nearly half say yes, despite years of negative headlines.

What’s needed now is imagination. We must tell better stories, fund grassroots work, and create real opportunities for connection. As we mark the anniversary of last summer’s violence, we should not only reflect on what was lost but focus on what we can create together. 

Projects like Action Asylum show that real connection comes from doing things side by side, sharing time and purpose. It’s in these everyday moments that trust is built, barriers break down and communities
grow stronger.

Action Asylum is a project by Task Force Trust.

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