Welcome to the Brighton Marathon 2022 page for Geoff and Helen!

We’re running in the Brighton Marathon on Sunday 10th April to raise funds for Student Action for Refugees (STAR).

We’re in the midst of the biggest European refugee crisis in decades, and the UK’s response is nothing short of shameful. It is a stark reminder of the way this country treats refugees – greeting people fleeing violence with hostility instead of compassion. Quite rightly, the international humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières has declared that the UK is “one of the most anti-refugee countries in the world”.

This year we’re standing up for refugees and fundraising for Student Action for Refugees (STAR) to help make the UK a more welcoming environment for refugees and people seeking asylum. As an organisation, STAR mobilises students across the country to provide practical support through volunteering, improve access to university, campaign for policy change, and shift the narrative about asylum by sharing stories from people who have lived experience of being a refugee.

'STAR reminds me every week and most days that we shouldn't give  up, we are part of a huge group of people who are dedicated to changing their little piece of the world for the better, in whatever way we are all doing this. It is my community and I am proud to be a part of it.’ - Cardiff STAR leader

In the UK, people seeking asylum are locked out of university. They are treated as international students, they do not have access to student finance and are not allowed to work. Many refugees find the university system difficult to navigate and struggle to get the help they need to continue with their education. STAR works to improve access pathways and support for students to continue their education; the number of universities offering scholarships for refugee and asylum-seeking students has grown from seven to 72 since they started campaigning!

Beyond scholarships, STAR is hard at work to make universities and local communities across the UK a more welcoming place for refugees and people seeking asylum. As global events continue to displace people from across the world, demand for their work is only increasing. They are a small but incredibly effective charity, powered by the passion and expertise of students across the UK.