A FAIRER FUTURE

Migrant justice

Refugee Action

Migration is a vital part of UK life.

The power and leadership of those with experience of migration, asylum and detention are essential to achieve a society where migrants, refugees and asylum seekers have the tools and resources to understand and advocate for their rights, have their rights protected and can live in safety.

Working in partnership, we will support the development of a just legislative framework, a less polarising public narrative and on ensuring that migrants have access to legal help that enables them to secure their rights.

What we want to achieve

We're working towards three long-term outcomes:

  1. Migrants have improved access to legal help to exercise their rights.
  2. Legislation and support ensure that migrants' rights are protected, and reflects their needs.
  3. Public understanding and discussion of migration issues is better informed, particularly by those with lived experience of the migration system.

If you are interested in applying for funding under this priority, please see our guidance for support. You can also watch our Q&A webinar on our priorities for Racial justice, Gender justice, and Migrant justice.

Committee on the Administration of Justice-Common Travel Area campaign protest takes place at border crossing

Latest grants

See all our grants towards our migrant justice funding priority.

Find out more
Unlocking change

Stories

Latest

You might be interested in

  • Sunset on a reservoir as viewed through reeds.
    20 August 2025

    Our support and solidarity

    We are re-publishing our post from August 2024 with updated resources for organisations and communities facing a threat from the far right.

    Read more
  • Anti Racist Cumbria

    Racial justice: A review of Esmée's approach

    Following a listening exercise with organisations we fund who are led by communities experiencing racial inequity, we’re pleased to share a new report by Chrisann Jarrett reviewing our approach to racial justice. We’ve also shared our initial reflections and actions we plan to take in 2025.

    Read more
  • Anansi Theatre Company

    New Connections funding: behind the scenes and reflections so far

    Chebet Kuntai, Esmée’s Climate and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Co-ordinator, writes about the development of New Connections along with how we identified and reached out to organisations to support.

    Read more
  • Black Girls Hike

    New Connections: 20 organisations awarded a total of £1.4m

    At the end of last year, we announced New Connections, a new ringfenced fund for finding and supporting organisations who could not, or would not, usually apply to Esmée. We’re pleased now to share more about the organisations who have been awarded funding.

    Read more
  • Rainbow Migration-Rainbow Migration service users at Pride in London 2023-4

    Working towards A Fairer Future: reflections so far

    Catherine Hillis, Director of A Fairer Future at Esmée, shares her reflections on her first year leading the team to deliver the first full year of our new A Fairer Future strategy and how the wider context is shaping our work.

    Read more
  • Northern Roots-Group of young people all pulling on a rope together in game

    Making partnerships work

    Read our new Insights report, which shares learning and advice from organisations we fund on what makes good partnerships, and how to make them work.

    Read more
  • Think for the Future.png

    Using social investment to secure a fairer future

    Tom Colborne, Esmée’s Social Investment Portfolio Manager, writes about our social investment plans to support in a fairer future. This is part of a series of blogs on how our social investment strategy will contribute to Esmée’s mission.

    Read more