Women Asylum Seekers Together

Women Asylum Seekers Together (WAST) is a charity and grassroots network based in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a network of over 150 women living in Greater Manchester who are navigating the UK's asylum system. The organisation describes itself as a safe space where women can share experiences, empower and support one another. Its vision is a society where women seeking asylum are respected, included, empowered and able to reach their full potential. Its mission is to create a safe, inclusive and empowering space where women seeking asylum can support one another, build their futures, and campaign for justice and equality. The network's values are compassion, respect, empowerment and inclusion. WAST offers local support while campaigning nationally to improve the rights of women seeking asylum in the UK. It raises awareness of the injustices of the UK immigration system and the reasons why women seek sanctuary and international protection. The organisation runs a weekly Friday drop-in support group where women can join together, find out essential information and connect with others. It also organises wellbeing trips and other activities. WAST is a membership network; its members speak many languages and practise many religions, and include women of all ages, nationalities, ethnicities, sexual orientations and disabilities. Some have children and spouses or partners with them, while others face family separation through deportation. The organisation is governed by a Board of Trustees and has sought new trustees through public recruitment. It relies on donations to support its work, including emergency fundraising for women experiencing destitution. WAST engages in advocacy and campaigning, and its members have received recognition, such as the Woman of the Year award at the Women on the Move Awards 2016. The organisation is a British NGO and a registered charity. It operates primarily in Greater Manchester but has a national campaigning focus.

Women Asylum Seekers Together (WAST) is a British NGO and charity based in Manchester. It was established as a grassroots network of women who are themselves seeking asylum in the UK. The organisation grew out of the shared experiences of women living in Greater Manchester who were navigating the UK's asylum system and who faced isolation, trauma, ill health, destitution, homelessness or deportation. By coming together, they created a safe space for mutual support and collective action. WAST has since grown into a network of over 150 women. It provides local support through activities such as a weekly Friday drop-in support group, where women can access essential information and connect with others, and wellbeing trips. At the same time, it campaigns nationally to improve the rights of women seeking asylum and to raise awareness of the injustices of the UK immigration system. The organisation is member-led and values compassion, respect, empowerment and inclusion. It has highlighted the diversity of its membership, noting that its women speak many languages, practise many religions, and include people of all ages, nationalities, ethnicities, sexual orientations and disabilities. In 2016, WAST member Mariam Yusuf received a Woman of the Year award at the Women on the Move Awards, bringing visibility to the organisation and its cause. WAST is governed by a Board of Trustees and has periodically recruited new trustees, including a 2026 call for four women to join the board. It relies on donations and fundraising to sustain its work, including emergency appeals such as the 2026 'From Destitution to Dignity' campaign, which aimed to raise £3000 to support women experiencing destitution. The organisation continues to operate as a charity and grassroots network, offering local support in Greater Manchester while advocating for a fairer asylum system across the UK.

• 2026

  WAST launched the 'From Destitution to Dignity' appeal to raise £3000 for women experiencing destitution.

• 2026

  WAST announced a recruitment drive for four women to join its Board of Trustees.

• 2016

  WAST member Mariam Yusuf received a Woman of the Year award at the Women on the Move Awards.

A grassroots, member-led charity and network providing a safe, empowering space for women seeking asylum in Greater Manchester while campaigning nationally for their rights.

1. 1WAST official websitewastmanchester.com
2. 2About Us — WASTwastmanchester.com
3. 3Wikidata entry for Women Asylum Seekers Togetherwikidata.org