Jane Hutt, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd & Chief Whip
This week, we mark Refugee Week 2025 – a time to reflect on the strength and resilience of people seeking sanctuary, and the enormous contributions they make to Welsh life and in our communities across Wales.
The theme of this year’s Refugee Week is ‘Community as a Superpower’. It is a fitting message for Wales, where communities across Wales consistently go above and beyond to provide both a warm welcome and practical support to those fleeing war and persecution. Much of this is done by volunteers which we celebrated earlier this month as part of Volunteers Week.
One powerful example of this was the response of communities across Wales who opened their homes to people fleeing the war in Ukraine. This generosity reflected the same compassion we have seen extended time and again to those seeking sanctuary from many parts of the world. It is a reminder that our greatest strength lies in the kindness and solidarity shown across our communities, regardless of where someone comes from.
Wales has a long and proud tradition of being a place of refuge. The Welsh Government remains firmly committed to our Nation of Sanctuary vision, as set out in the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan – a Wales where everyone, regardless of their background, is treated with dignity, respect and humanity.
That vision was brought to life so powerfully during the recent Nation of Sanctuary Awards, which I was honoured to attend. The evening was a celebration of the incredible individuals and organisations working to make Wales a truly welcoming nation. I was deeply inspired by the commitment, compassion and courage shown by everyone there. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and nominees. The standard across the board was incredibly high -every individual and organisation recognised has made an outstanding contribution to supporting sanctuary in Wales. Each one deserves to be celebrated, and we’re grateful for the dedication and impact of everyone involved.
Our approach is rooted in partnership, compassion, and long-term commitment. We know that none of this would be possible without the dedication of volunteers, third sector organisations, local authorities, public services and community groups across Wales.
Programmes such as the Welsh Government’s Volunteering Wales grant have helped to support this work. Weekly woodwork and upcycling sessions in North Wales and culturally sensitive birth and postnatal support in Cardiff are just two examples of the vital grassroots work supported through recent grants. Volunteers have also played a key role in offering English language learning, mentoring, employability support, and wider community engagement — helping people seeking sanctuary feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to thrive as part of Welsh society.
At a time of increasing global instability and humanitarian crises, Refugee Week serves as a timely reminder that welcoming those in need is not only the right thing to do – it strengthens us all. There is no place for hate, discrimination or division in Wales. We will continue to stand up for our values and work with our partners to ensure Wales remains a safe, inclusive and compassionate nation for all.