STAR is a national charity of 27,000 students welcoming refugees to the UK, together they:

• - Volunteer at local refugee projects
• - Campaign to improve the lives of refugees
• - Educate people about refugees and asylum
• - Fundraise to welcome refugees

STAR is made up of over 42 groups at universities across the UK and a national team which co-ordinates and supports the groups. STAR groups are students’ union societies which are affiliated to the charity. The charity is governed by STAR’s Board of Trustees, elected annually by the students themselves.

Volunteering

University students have the skills to help a refugee rebuild their life in the UK. STAR works with over 45 refugee charities providing much needed assistance, including:

• - English Conversation Clubs where communication between refugees and students is fun, friendly and leads to real independence
• - Drop ins where food and friendship are shared in equal measure
• - Homework Clubs where those undergraduate study skills are passed on to young refugees working their way through school

Campaigning

Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders and STAR students campaign for a future where Britain provides a truly safe haven for people fleeing persecution. They focus on a few important topics so that their message is heard clearly. Their current campaigns are:

Equal Access to Higher Education: They want people who are in the UK fleeing persecution to be able to join them at university. This will only happen if they are classed as home students and are given access to bursaries and scholarships open to other vulnerable people.

Refugee Crisis: The world is facing the biggest refugee crisis since WWII. Thousands of people have drowned in the Mediterranean while trying to reach safety in Europe. They want the UK to ensure there are routes to safety for refugees, and to save lives by: Allowing refugees to safely and legally join family members in the UK; providing sanctuary to their fair share of refugees arriving in Europe; significantly increasing the number of resettlement places available to refugees; helping ensure there are adequate search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean.

Still Human Still Here: they want to end the enforced poverty of people seeking refugee protection by giving them permission to work and support themselves instead of relying on state handouts of just £36 per week.

Educating

Students go to university to learn, so it’s a great place to find out the truth about refugees and asylum in the UK. They organise talks, films, exhibitions, plays and a whole host of other educational activities on and off campus so that students are well informed about why people flee and what happens when they arrive in the UK.

Fundraising

Students are great at raising the money that says Refugees Welcome Here!

• - Sporty STARs run marathons
• - Funky STARs stage gigs
• - Yummy STARs host cake sales
• - Crazy STARs jump out of planes

Every penny makes a difference.