Tulia Campaigners Attend the Amplify Summit: Building Power for Migrant Healthcare Workers

Last weekend, activists and organisers from across the UK gathered at Warwick University for the Amnesty International Amplify Summit, a two-day residential conference designed to inspire, educate, and equip grassroots leaders with the skills to create positive change in their communities.

This summit wasn’t just a training event, it was a powerful space for connection, reflection, and strategising on how to challenge injustice locally and nationally.

About Hands of Justice (HoJ)

Among the participants was Hands of Justice (HoJ), a team supported by Tulia. HoJ is a passionate group of migrant healthcare workers and new leaders who came together with a shared mission: to defend and advance the rights of healthcare workers on Skilled Worker Visas.

Against the backdrop of tightening UK immigration policies, Hands of Justice is building a campaign rooted in their lived experiences to ensure migrant healthcare workers are treated with dignity, fairness, and respect.

What Happened at the Amplify Summit?

The summit was structured around:

• Interactive lectures

• Group discussions

• Power mapping exercises

• Direct action training

• Informal networking opportunities
  

Facilitated by Shingai Catherine Mushayabasa and supported by Amnesty International UK, the event emphasised inclusivity, courage, and building strong, resilient communities.

Key Takeaways for Hands of Justice

1. Community Organising Foundations

HoJ learned that community organising is about building collective power. Real change happens when people come together, build relationships, and act with a clear, shared vision.

2. Power Mapping

Participants mapped out stakeholders, decision-makers, allies, and opponents in their communities and nationally. For HoJ, this exercise highlighted just how many potential allies they have to support their Skilled Worker Visa Rights campaign.

One member shared:

“Learning about power mapping was eye-opening. We never realised how many potential allies we have.”

3. Direct Action Confidence

Many migrant workers fear engaging in direct action due to potential legal repercussions. This session demystified protest rights and showed that peaceful protest has always been a cornerstone of social change.

Another participant reflected:

“The lecture demystified direct action and empowered us to act with confidence and determination.”

4. Building Relationships

Lunch breaks and informal meetings allowed HoJ to connect with other activists, share ideas, and forge partnerships to strengthen their upcoming campaign work.

Why Does This Matter?

Migrant healthcare workers are the backbone of the UK’s health and care system, yet many face:

• Precarious visa conditions

• Exploitation and workplace insecurity

• Limited recognition and rights
  
  

Hands of Justice, supported by Tulia, is building a movement to change this reality. Their participation at Amplify is not just about skills development, it is about creating leaders who can advocate for fairer policies, challenge hostile environments, and build communities rooted in justice and care.

What’s Next for Hands of Justice?

In the coming weeks, HoJ will:

• Launch their Skilled Worker Visa Rights Campaign
  

• Share their lived experiences to influence policy change
  

• Train wider networks of migrant healthcare workers in advocacy and direct action
  

• Build stronger alliances with unions, human rights organisations, and local community groups
  
  

Rising Up Begins Locally

The Amplify Summit reminded us that human rights work starts in our own communities. As Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International Secretary General, said:

“Together we rise, together we resist, and together we disrupt. Be troublemakers.”

Hands of Justice is ready to rise – and at Tulia, we are honoured to walk alongside them in this journey.

Join Us

We invite local authorities, policy makers, funders, and allies to:

• Partner with us on upcoming campaigns

• Support research into migrant healthcare worker experiences

• Invest in leadership development programmes to build migrant power

• Advocate alongside us for fair immigration and employment policies
  

Together, we can build a society where migrant healthcare workers are valued, respected, and protected – not just as workers, but as vital members of our communities.

To learn more about Tulia’s work and support Hands of Justice, visit www.tulia.org.uk or contact us to discuss how we can collaborate for a fairer future.