We Belong Hosts Cross-Border Learning Exchange with Northern Ireland

Did you know that the experiences of young migrants navigating the immigration system can vary significantly between Northern Ireland and England, despite both being part of the UK?  

Due to its deep social and cultural differences, as well as its geographical borders and the continuing influence of EU law playing a crucial role in Northern Ireland's immigration and legal framework, many young people remain underserved when it comes to immigration policies and their impact on young migrants.  

We discovered these insights during our recent learning exchange with alumni from the Social Change Initiative (SCI), a cross-border initiative that unites social change activists from the UK and abroad. 

The idea for the learning exchange was inspired by our CEO, Chrisann Jarrett, who participated in SCI's Black Activist Residential in April of this year. This gathering of activists highlighted key issues such as precarious immigration status and underscored the importance of We Belong gaining a deeper understanding of Northern Ireland’s unique historical and political context, particularly how devolved governance influences the potential for open dialogue with policymakers.  

Sipho and Una, SCI alumni from Northern Ireland, expressed enthusiasm for continuing the conversation, which ultimately led to the development of our learning exchange. During this exchange, Mariam Bafo, our Policy and Public Affairs Lead, led discussions on immigration policies and their impact on young migrants, as well as how we aim to support young people in the UK through our Legal Advice Clinic.  

Lizzie Etti, our Youth Development Officer, and Giovaughni Reid, our Community Engagement Officer, also shared their experiences in navigating barriers to education for young people. This sparked in-depth discussions about the civil society infrastructure, which varies significantly across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.  

As a youth-led organisation, it was essential to include the perspectives of the young people we serve. To achieve this, we invited Hillary, Abdullahi, and Sultan, members of our Public and Policy working group and We Belong Core Group, to share their insights and participate throughout the learning exchange. Their contributions where crucial in sharing We Belong's advocacy efforts and identifying what could be applied to Northern Ireland's context.  

Here's what they had to say: 

Hillary, Policy and Working Group Member 

"During the learning exchange, I gained a lot of valuable insight into Northern Ireland’s immigration system. As someone currently studying Psychology and Criminology, I already had a basic understanding that immigration and legal systems can differ across regions. However, I didn’t realise just how vast those differences could be, or how little immigration support Northern Ireland has compared to England. 

 For example, in England, we have access to strong support hubs and networks, but in Northern Ireland, these are far more limited, leaving migrants in more vulnerable positions. While I knew about the UK-wide tightening of immigration policies, I hadn’t realised how uniquely complex it is for people living in Northern Ireland, caught between UK and EU influences. Because of the significant role that EU law still plays in Northern Ireland’s immigration and legal framework, which makes their situation very different from the rest of the UK.  

Overall, the learning exchange broadened my perspective. I left with a deeper awareness of the inequalities migrants face depending on geography, and how immigration is not just a legal or political issue, but one that is tied to cultural attitudes, history, and social support systems. It has made me reflect more critically on how we talk about immigration in the UK and reminded me that the challenges are not uniform, but regionally shaped."

Abdullahi, Policy and Working Group Member:   

"One of the most memorable moments for me was when a guest shared her son’s experiences with schooling in Ireland. This provided a personal perspective on how the immigration system and cultural differences can affect families.   

I found Sophi and Una to be very open and eager to learn from us during the exchange; they truly took in all the resources we shared. It made us feel valued, as they genuinely wanted to understand what it means for us to belong. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the exchange and the opportunity to learn from each other." 

Our Learnings

Throughout these conversations, the complexities of working across different nations became clear, highlighting deepsocial and cultural differences. Yet, we also identified common ground: a shared recognition that there is a large cohort of young people across the UK who remain underserved and could be far better supported.  

The learning exchange was just the beginning of an important conversation. It revealed that while we may all live under the same Union Jack, our experiences can differ dramatically, shaping our access to services, our sense of identity, and ourfeelings of belonging. These differences matter, and understanding them is essential to building more inclusive, responsive systems for all young people across the UK.  

If you want to find out more about the work we do in engaging with organisations in the UK, please visit our What We Do page or get in touch via email at info@webelong.org.uk. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest updates!