Hear Me Out

This is a time of crisis for the people Hear Me Out works with. Going through immigration detention and asylum was always an ordeal, but the system and the debate surrounding it have reached a level of uninhibited hostility unmatched since we started 20 years ago.

We’re appalled by the rise of violence and hate speech that strip people of dignity and humanity. We stand in solidarity alongside the people we work with, recent arrivals in the UK or resident for decades, who show such resilience and creativity, and have so much to offer.

Life is a struggle for many, all over this country. People and communities under stress are often failed by the systems that should support them. But we reject the claim that migrants are the cause and the threat. We have seen how programmes like ours bring communities together, and the power of the arts to help people see themselves, and each other, in a new way.

Our work, never easy, has become a constant challenge. Charities supporting migrants are subjected to threats and lurid accusations, and programmes that support mental health and integration are attacked as undeserved treats.

This will not deter us. 2026 will see us working with people held in detention centres, asylum hotels and former military bases. With our support, people who have spent time in these places will be developing creative lives and careers, getting through tough times, and helping run Hear Me Out and its work. We’ll be using our long experience of working ‘over the wall’ to build understanding and reduce community tensions.

This is needed now more than ever. We believe deeply in what we offer, and the increasing demand for our work shows that others do too.

To do this we need your help. Meeting the moment is hard at this time of scarcity across the charity sector. Working at a time of constant threat, while doing all we can to keep everyone in Hear Me Out safe, uses up valuable energy and resource.

So if our values chime with yours and our work warms your heart, please join the Hear Me Out community. Get involved! Sign up to our mailing list. Donate what you can. Come to our gigs. Book our bands. Share the music. Tell your loved ones all about it.

This video might be a great place to start.