The Refugee Council has unveiled its new strategic plan for 2013-2016.

The plan sets out the key directions and priorities for the Refugee Council over the next three years and was unveiled at our AGM on Thursday 28 November.

The plan was endorsed by AGM attendees with Simin Azimi, Director of the Refugee Women’s Association and Karen Kavivi Harrison, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Regional Refugee Forum North East giving their reflections during a panel discussion.

The plan aims to address the challenging financial climate while building on our  profile as the most prominent refugee NGO in the UK.

Our mission

To be an influential and effective advocate of refugee protection rights, supporting and empowering refugees to lead safe, dignified and fulfilling lives, in line with the UK’s international refugee and human rights commitments and obligations.

Our vision

We want the UK to be a welcoming place of safety for people who seek refuge here from persecution and human rights abuses abroad.

For those seeking asylum, we want fair and just decision making;
For those granted refuge, we want equality of opportunity to lead fulfilling lives;
For those denied protection, we want understanding and humane treatment;
For all refugees in the UK, we want respect and dignity.  

Our aims

We intend that the Refugee Council uses its position as the UK’s most prominent refugee and human rights NGOs to play a pivotal role in:

• Creating a vibrant, inclusive and influential refugee rights movement in the UK;
• Ensuring that all refugees in the UK obtain the specialist and mainstream services and resources they need;
• Strengthening the influence and involvement of refugees in shaping the decisions and processes that affect their lives.

 Refugee Council Chief Executive Maurice Wren said:

“The economic recession in the UK has been particularly tough on refugees, and on the organisations that work with them. Meanwhile, the practical problems facing refugees in the UK, whether they are seeking asylum or have been granted protection, are growing by the day.

“The future for the Refugee Council laid out in our refreshed strategic plan for the coming years is that of a confident, resolutely independent and highly influential leading voice on refugee protection in the UK and Europe.”