Asylum Stories: Room AT the INN

(1) TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY AND DIVERSE HERITAGE BY CREATING AN ORAL HISTORY ARCHIVE THAT DOCUMENTS AND SHARES THE PERSONAL STORIES OF ASYLUM-SEEKERS ACCOMMODATION IN UK HOTELS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT-PROVIDED ACCOMMODATION. THIS INITIATIVE SEEKS TO FOSTER GREATER UNDERSTANDING, EMPATHY AND SOLIDARITY BETWEEN MIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND THE WIDER PUBLIC. (2) TO ADVANCE EDUCATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS AND PROMOTE RACIAL HARMONY AND EQUITY AND DIVERSITY BY RAISING AWARENESS OF THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF MIGRATION IN THE CONTEXT OF UK GOVERNMENT POLICIES SINCE MARCH 2020. THROUGH THESE COLLECTED NARRATIVES, THE PROJECT AIMS TO INFORM PUBLIC PERCEPTION AND CONTRIBUTE TO MORE INCLUSIVE AND EVIDENCE-BASED POLICYMAKING. THE AUDIO RECORDINGS ALSO PROVIDE AN ESSENTIAL SOURCE MATERIAL FROM THOSE NOT REPRESENTED IN TRADITIONAL SOURCES. (3) TO BENEFIT ASYLUM-SEEKERS HOUSED IN HOTEL AND OTHER GOVERNMENT-PROVIDED ACCOMMODATION IN ENGLAND AND WALES DURING AND SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BY GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND FIND RELIEF THROUGH ENGAGING WITH A SUPPORTIVE NETWORK BUILT AROUND THE CHARITY'S ACTIVITIES; AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, EDUCATORS, RESEARCHERS AND POLICYMAKERS WHO SEEK ACCESS TO AUTHENTIC, FIRST-HAND ACCOUNTS OF THE HUMAN IMPACT AND COMPLEXITIES OF UK ASYLUM POLICIES SINCE THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC. THESE NARRATIVES OFFER VALUABLE INSIGHTS THAT ARE OFTEN ABSENT FROM MAINSTREAM DISCOURSE.