Stories are one of the oldest ways we make sense of the world. They help us understand where we come from, who we are, and what we hope for. As National Storytelling Week begins in the UK, I’ve been thinking about the stories shared with Refugee Action by people seeking safety. Not just as case studies or campaign assets, but as moments of humanity offered with trust.
At Refugee Action, we share lived-experience stories because change starts with listening. When people are given space to speak for themselves, it deepens public understanding, challenges harmful narratives, and ensures that conversations about asylum and protection are rooted in real lives, not assumptions. It reminds us all that behind every system or policy are real people, with voices that matter.
Ameena, a woman with lived experience of seeking asylum, reflects on the power of stories in her own life. “Back home, my family would sit together in the evenings and tell stories,” she says. “They were about where we came from, about our elders, about who we are. Even now, those stories live inside me.”
For Ameena, sharing her story is about being recognised as a whole person. “I want people to understand that I am more than my journey,” she says. “I am a mother, a friend, someone who wants to contribute and belong.”
Through stories, we meet people rather than categories.
Truly listening can be transformative. Daniel remembers a moment of connection during a difficult time. “Someone offered me a cup of tea and asked how I was really doing,” he recalls. “It sounds small, but it meant everything. I felt human again.”
That sense of being welcomed often shapes how people see their place in the community. “Because someone listened to me, I want to do the same for others,” Daniel adds. “I want to give back, to help someone else feel welcome the way I was welcomed.”
Stories like these help shift how people seeking asylum are seen and understood. Emmanuel speaks about what he wishes people knew. “We are often talked about but not spoken to. People think our lives are only about suffering. But there is also joy, humour, talent, and hope,” he says.
For many, storytelling is also about reclaiming voice.
“Telling my story reminded me of my strength,” says Daniel. “It helped me see how far I’ve come. I want people to hear our stories and see us as neighbours, colleagues, friends.”
As Ameena puts it, “When someone hears my story and really listens, it feels like a bridge. It brings us closer.” This week, storytelling gives us a chance to slow down and reconnect with that humanity. It reminds us that behind every policy debate and statistic is a person who has survived, adapted, and kept going. And it encourages us to keep making space for their voices, not only during this particular week, but every day of the year.
If you believe stories matter, explore our project ‘More Than a Refugee’ a project sharing lived-experience stories beyond labels and assumptions. Here is Cathy.