What Asylum Matters does

Asylum Matters is a UK-registered charity founded in 2016 that campaigns collaboratively, locally and nationally, to reform asylum policy and practice. Its functional role is coalition-based policy advocacy: it mobilises and coordinates local, regional and national advocacy work to secure improvements to the UK asylum system. The organisation operates from seven regional presences across the United Kingdom — North West, North East, Yorkshire and Humber, West Midlands, East Midlands, Wales, and London — with a small core team of approximately six staff members supplemented by regional campaigns managers (e.g., Emma Birks in West Midlands, Dr Allan Njanji as Campaigns Manager).

The organisation's 'products' are advocacy services rather than commercial goods: collaborative campaigning across four pillars (Fight for Asylum Rights, Asylum Accommodation, Support Rates, Right to Work), policy briefings and reports (e.g., 'Take back control of asylum with safe routes and right to work', December 2024; 'Surviving in Poverty', December 2023), downloadable campaigning resources (template motions, letters to MPs, graphics), training materials, and regular advocacy updates published via its website and newsletter. There is no proprietary technology stack, AI/ML capability, or commercial software offering; the core 'technology' is coalition orchestration, parliamentary engagement infrastructure (mass lobbies, EDMs, roundtables), and a multi-channel communication network spanning X, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and email.

Asylum Matters' business model is grant-funded: it is a registered charity whose revenue derives from charitable donations and grants, evidenced by its 'Our Funders' page and online donation portal. It charges no fees to beneficiaries. The organisation sits at the centre of a large coalition ecosystem, serving as co-secretariat (with Refugee Action) of the Lift the Ban coalition — a 300+ organisation alliance advocating for the right to work for people seeking asylum — and convening the Fight for Asylum Rights coalition opposing anti-refugee legislation. Customers in the conventional sense are people seeking asylum in the UK and partner refugee support organisations; 'buyers' in a funder sense are charitable trusts and individual donors not specifically named in source data. Executive Director Lou Calvey leads the organisation and publicly represents the Lift the Ban coalition.

Name

Asylum Matters

Legal name

Asylum Matters

Website

https://asylummatters.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Asylum Matters is a UK charity founded in 2016 that coordinates local, regional and national advocacy campaigns to reform UK asylum policy, operating from seven regional hubs and serving as co-secretariat of the 300+ organisation Lift the Ban coalition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Asylum Advocacy and Campaign Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Immigrant & Refugee Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

Keywords

• Asylum rights advocacy
• Refugee policy campaigns
• Humanitarian charity services
• Immigration policy reform
• Coalition advocacy coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

North West

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable funding and donations: Asylum Matters operates as a registered charity funded through donations and charitable grants. The organization has a 'Our Funders' page and accepts donations through their website.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Asylum Matters is a UK charity that coordinates collaborative campaigning at local, regional and national levels to secure improvements to asylum policy and practice. It mobilises partner organisations, refugee-led groups, local authorities and parliamentarians around campaigns such as Lift the Ban (right to work), Support Rates, Asylum Accommodation, and the Fight for Asylum Rights coalition opposing anti-refugee laws. Its work is delivered through policy briefings, campaigning resources, training, advocacy updates and direct parliamentary engagement.

Product overview

Asylum Matters is a charity offering a suite of advocacy services rather than a traditional product. The organization provides collaborative campaigning and advocacy services focused on transforming asylum in the UK, supported by policy briefings and reports, campaigning resources (including template motions and letters for local councils), training materials, and regular advocacy updates. These services work together to mobilize and coordinate advocacy efforts across local, regional, and national levels to improve asylum policy and practice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Campaigning and Advocacy Services Collaborative campaigning and advocacy services that coordinate local, regional and national efforts to secure improvements to asylum policy and practice in the UK; provided for partner organisations, local authorities, parliamentarians and people seeking asylum.
• Policy Briefings and Reports Research-based policy briefings and reports covering asylum support rates, asylum accommodation, anti-refugee laws and right to work, produced for policymakers, MPs, local authorities and partner organisations.
• Campaigning Resources Downloadable template motions, letters to MPs, social media graphics and campaign materials provided for local councils and partner organisations to use in advocacy efforts.
• Training Educational workshops and materials on asylum topics, including the Right to Remain Toolkit, delivered for people in the asylum system and partner organisations.
• Advocacy Updates Regular bulletins summarising campaigning initiatives, government and parliamentary updates, reports and research, resources, events, jobs and training related to asylum rights advocacy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lift the Ban campaign supported by 81% of public and coalition of 300+ organisations
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

35 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Refugee ActioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-secretariat of the Lift the Ban coalition alongside Refugee Action. Collaborate on campaigns for the right to work for people seeking asylum.
• Lift the Ban CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsylum Matters serves as co-secretariat of the Lift the Ban coalition, a coalition of over 300 businesses, recruiters, trade unions, faith groups, economists and charities campaigning for the right to work.
• Women for Refugee WomencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner in parliamentary engagement and campaign actions, bringing lived experience perspectives to advocacy.
• NACCOM (No Accommodation Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint briefing production for local authorities on Illegal Migration Act. Collaboration on accommodation and homelessness issues.
• Institute For GovernmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFG published a major report on asylum policy that Asylum Matters amplified and engaged with politically. The report's findings support Asylum Matters campaigns.
• NRPF PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Praxis and Citizens UK, organising mass lobby of Parliament on earned settlement proposals. Asylum Matters participates in coalition action.
• Sustain: the alliance for better food and farmingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint production of 'Covid-19 Briefing: Asylum Seekers and the Right to Food' covering food security issues for people seeking asylum.
• Together with Refugees coalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the broader Together with Refugees coalition advocating for compassionate asylum policy.
• Fight for Asylum Rights coalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition fighting anti-refugee laws including the Illegal Migration Act and Nationality and Borders Bill.
• Local Authorities across UKmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides model motions, briefings, and support for local councils to pass resolutions opposing anti-refugee policies.
• City of Sanctuary UKmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork partner supporting cities and towns to become places of welcome for people seeking sanctuary.
• Safe Passage InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner advocating for safe routes and family reunion. Safe Passage is taking legal action to restore family reunion rights.
• Greater Manchester Immigration Aid UnitmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduces joint briefings and collaborates on policy advocacy. GMIAU has produced guides on earned settlement consultation.
• PraxiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeads NRPF Partnership and produces tools for constituent contact on immigration issues. Asylum Matters participates in coalition actions.
• Refugee CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor refugee charity coalition partner. Signed joint letter to Prime Minister and collaborates on policy campaigns.
• Citizens UKmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organising alliance. Co-leads earned settlement campaign and runs MP engagement training with RAMP.
• Right to RemainmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduces toolkit and training on asylum system navigation. Collaborates on resources and events for people in the asylum system.
• Reunite FamiliesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly produced guide on earned settlement consultation to help organisations respond to government proposals.
• IMIXmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImmigration charity coalition partner working on public engagement and policy advocacy.
• Welsh Refugee CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWelsh arm of refugee support network, co-produces resources with City of Sanctuary and supports Wales Nation of Sanctuary Awards.
• Welsh Centre for International AffairsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWelsh international affairs organisation supporting sanctuary-seeking advocacy in Wales.
• Freedom From TorturemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner providing expertise on torture survivors and mental health impacts of asylum system. Co-signed letter to PM.
• Helen Bamber FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner specialising in support for survivors of trafficking and human trafficking. Co-signed letter to PM.
• Medical JusticemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner providing medical expertise on asylum accommodation impacts. Produced report on 'Politics Over People'.
• Migrants OrganisemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner. Produced joint report with Medact on health harms in asylum accommodation.
• MedactmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth professionals organisation. Joint report with Migrants Organise on 'Hostile Housing' health impacts.
• Rainbow MigrationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers. Coordinated statement against BBC reporting on immigration fraud.
• Project 17minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner working on issues affecting people with no recourse to public funds.
• Student Action for Refugees (STAR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent refugee support network. Supports sanctuary scholarships and university access for people seeking asylum.
• Refugee WeekmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual festival celebrating refugees. Asylum Matters participates and produces resources for Refugee Week events.
• End Violence Against Women CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced 'Not In Our Name' guide on weaponisation of violence against women and girls with Asylum Matters involvement.
• Southall Black SistersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner in VAWG guide production. Addresses violence against women issues in context of migration.
• Latin American Women's Rights ServicemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner in VAWG guide. Addresses labour exploitation and rights of migrant women.
• HibiscusmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner addressing violence against women and girls issues in immigration context.
• ImkaanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlack and minority ethnic ending violence against women organisation. Coalition partner in VAWG guide production.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Safe Passage International: UK charity focused on safe routes and family reunion for refugees, combining legal action with advocacy. Coalition partner of Asylum Matters on the family reunion and safe-routes policy streams.
• City of Sanctuary UK: Network of local 'Cities of Sanctuary' across the UK focused on community welcome for refugees and people seeking asylum. Listed as a core partner of Asylum Matters, with overlapping grassroots mobilisation and local-authority engagement.
• Refugee Council: One of the largest UK refugee charities, providing direct advice and casework while also running national policy and parliamentary advocacy campaigns. Direct coalition partner and co-signatory on the joint letter to the Prime Minister.
• Refugee Action: UK refugee charity co-secreting the Lift the Ban coalition with Asylum Matters. Delivers both frontline services (asylum casework, destitution support) and policy advocacy, making it a close operational and strategic peer.
• Praxis: London-based charity supporting migrants with no recourse to public funds, leading the NRPF Partnership. Collaborates with Asylum Matters on parliamentary lobbying and community organising on immigration policy.
• Together with Refugees: Broad coalition of refugee and human-rights organisations advocating for a compassionate UK asylum system. Listed as a major coalition partner of Asylum Matters.
• Right to Remain: UK charity producing toolkits and training to help people navigate the asylum system and build local campaign groups. Direct partner on resources and training products delivered alongside Asylum Matters campaigns.
• Women for Refugee Women: UK charity supporting women who have sought asylum in the UK through peer-group support, advocacy, and research. Coalition partner of Asylum Matters, with a more women-focused but otherwise closely aligned advocacy remit.
• NACCOM (No Accommodation Network): UK network of organisations providing accommodation and support to people experiencing migration-related homelessness. Joint briefing partner with Asylum Matters on the Illegal Migration Act and accommodation policy.

Broad incumbents

• British Red Cross (Refugee Services): Large established humanitarian organisation running a UK-wide refugee support and restoration-of-family-links programme. Operates at much greater scale and offers direct services as part of a much broader portfolio, but overlaps with Asylum Matters on asylum policy advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asylum-matters

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Asylum Matters