Hosted at the JRS UK Centre in East London, the visit offered Dame Rachel the opportunity to engage directly with families supported by the charity, which accompanies, serves, and advocates for people seeking sanctuary. The Commissioner toured the centre, met with staff and volunteers, and spent time listening to the stories of refugee parents and children.
Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said: "It's always so powerful to hear people's stories. Today I met people who have been waiting for years and years. JRS UK and other organisations like this are holding lives together. Over the years services have been pared back and back and organisations like JRS UK are delivering support to families."
During her time at the centre, Dame Rachel learned about the huge challenges faced by families navigating the asylum system, including food insecurity and malnutrition, unsafe accommodation, disruption to education, and the emotional toll of living in limbo for long periods. She also heard about the brutal realities faced by unaccompanied asylum-seeking children wrongly deemed to be adults and incarcerated in immigration detention.
Following her conversation with refugee families, she met JRS UK's frontline services which offer practical support, community, and a sense of dignity to families who are often excluded from statutory services.
David Ryall, Director of JRS UK, said:
“We were very pleased to welcome Dame Rachel and are grateful for her deep interest in the lives of the families we accompany. Her visit shines a light on the urgent need for a more compassionate asylum system – one that recognises the humanity and potential of every child.”
The visit comes as part of the Commissioner’s ongoing commitment to listening to children from all backgrounds and ensuring their rights and well-being are protected. It also highlights the critical role of community-based organisations like JRS UK in supporting families through the asylum process.
One refugee mother who met the Commissioner shared:
“She had a listening ear and she wants to help. She’s a mother, she knows what we are going through. She said she is trying to improve conditions for asylum seekers’ children so that they have a better life experience. I hope that things will change.”
To find out more about the work of Jesuit Refugee Service UK please visit the website here.
