“Carers Deserve Better”: Defending Dignity in an Age of Rising Intolerance
On Friday, at the Tulia Conference 2025 in Coventry, carers, migrant workers, legal experts, community organisations, and local authority representatives gathered in unity. From sponsorship barriers to housing struggles, from legal labyrinths to economic precarity, the testimonies resonated deeply: carers, many of them international, deserve dignity, security, and recognition.
Rising Hostility: From Protests to Policy
Beyond the conference halls, a darker story is unfolding. Across the UK in recent months, far-right groups have exploited immigration fears to fuel division and hostility. Protests outside asylum accommodation, coordinated campaigns of intimidation, and threats against migrant charities have created an environment of fear. Refugee organisations have even been forced to install safe rooms, relocate offices, and protect trustees from harassment.
This climate directly affects international carers, many of whom are already navigating precarious sponsorships, exploitative contracts, and unstable housing. They are essential to our communities, yet too often scapegoated and overlooked.
Hands of Justice: A Campaign for Dignity
Amidst these challenges, the Hands of Justice campaign was highlighted at the conference as a movement of carers and allies committed to standing against exploitation and injustice. Born from grassroots organising in Coventry, Hands of Justice is building power from the ground up, centering carers’ voices, resisting the hostile environment, and pushing for fairer immigration and employment systems.
The campaign is a reminder that carers are not just workers, they are leaders, storytellers, and changemakers who deserve to be at the forefront of shaping solutions.
A Moral Imperative: Solidarity, Reform, Hope
The conference made one thing clear: we cannot allow international carers to be invisible. Their contributions are too vital, their struggles too urgent.
We must respond with action:
• Build stronger networks of support for international carers.
• Push for clearer, fairer policies that safeguard workers and families.
• Create pathways for carers to thrive, not just survive.
• Stand against far-right hostility with unity and truth.
Join the Movement
The Tulia Conference 2025 was more than an event, it was a call to action. From testimonies to campaigns like Hands of Justice, the message is clear: carers deserve better.
Together, we can build a future where carers are recognised, protected, and celebrated, not exploited or vilified. The work continues.
Thank you to our partners, sponsors, allies, and every single voice that made this conference possible.
