Patrick Vernon

Warwick STAR Charity Summit 2025

On Saturday, 29th November, the University of Warwick will host one of its most important annual gatherings: the Warwick STAR Charity Summit 2025, centred around a timely and urgent theme: “Displaced but Not Forgotten: Solidarity, Systems, and Social Justice.” From 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM at the FAB building, students, activists, academics, and advocates will come together for a full day of learning, dialogue, and collective action.

A Day for Understanding, Accountability, and Action

The summit dives deep into the interconnected issues shaping refugee protection today, from asylum law and human rights frameworks to the lived realities of displacement. Through talks, panels, and storytelling sessions, attendees will explore not just the systems that fail people, but also the communities and movements working to support them.

This year’s speaker lineup brings together some of the most respected voices in refugee advocacy and social justice:

• Kanbar Hossein Bor, High Commissioner and a leading diplomatic voice on international cooperation

• Fizza Qureshi, CEO of Migrant Network, championing migrant justice and equitable systems

• Professor Patrick Vernon OBE FrHistS, Windrush political activist known for his long-standing fight for racial justice and state accountability

• Legal experts and barristers Dr. S. Chelvan, Giulia Tranchina, and Alex Powell, each specialising in refugee and asylum law and known for their groundbreaking casework

They will be joined by activists, academics, and student journalists, creating a rich space for thoughtful, informed, and action-oriented conversation.

Panels, Workshops, and Real-World Insight

The programme includes keynote lectures, panel discussions on current asylum policy, and an interactive workshop with The Boar, Warwick’s student newspaper. Attendees will gain:

• A deeper understanding of the legal and political landscape shaping displacement

• First-hand perspectives from those working at the frontlines of refugee support

• Tools to critically engage with refugee narratives and media representation

• Practical pathways for students to get meaningfully involved in advocacy and volunteering

A Fair Connecting Purpose to Practice

The summit also features a networking and volunteering fair, connecting participants with NGOs, charities, and public-sector organisations actively supporting refugees and asylum seekers. It’s a chance to turn awareness into action to meet organisations, ask questions, and discover ways to contribute beyond the event.

Standing Together in Solidarity

At its core, the Warwick STAR Charity Summit is more than a conference. It’s a gathering built on empathy, evidence, accountability, and hope. In a world where millions are displaced yet routinely sidelined in public discourse, this summit serves as a reminder that students, activists, and institutions all have a role to play in advocating for justice.

Whether you’re passionate about human rights, policymaking, journalism, or global citizenship, this is a space to learn, reflect, and mobilise.

🎟️ Reserve your ticket [here] now and be part of a movement standing in solidarity with refugees everywhere.