This is a crucial time of opportunity for all those who are concerned for the rights of asylum-seekers and refugees in the UK. At the same time as a change in Prime Minister and senior government decision-makers there are some historic efforts being made by citizens’ groups to re-think and reform the whole asylum and immigration system. At the Churches Refugee Network conference in London last weekend, there was a sense of urgency and purpose amongst those working with asylum-seekers and refugees around the country about the possibilities that are opening up to contribute to real change. We heard from Austin Ivereigh about the Strangers into Citizens campaign for a ‘pathway into citizenship’ for undocumented migrants (including refused asylum-seekers) who have lived in the UK for over four years. This is a proposal which would eliminate the backlog of hundreds of thousands of migrants who can never realistically be deported, and who are condemned to lives without basic legal rights in the shadow economy. There is more information on Strangers into Citizens, including migrants’ own stories at www.strangersintocitizens.org.uk. Yvonne Mahlunge is a Zimbabwean human rights lawyer and founder member of the Movement for Democratic change. She gave a moving account of how, after having advised her clients on making asylum applications, she was finally forced to apply for asylum herself, and the humiliation and deliberate obstruction that she encountered from the asylum system. Another important initiative was presented by Jonathan Cox from the Independent Asylum Commission, which is conducting a thorough national review of the whole asylum system, with the involvement of senior members of the judiciary and other influential establishment figures. The IAC is collecting evidence of people’s experience and views of the asylum system for its report, which will emphasise practical recommendations for reforming the existing system. Information on how to contribute evidence and views is available at www.independentasylumcommission.org.uk. Reports from the group Medical Justice, which focuses on the health needs of asylum-seekers in detention, emphasised the intolerable suffering imposed on vulnerable people by arbitrary and indefinite detention in Britain’s Immigration Removal Centres. The need for fundamental change is urgent, and we now have opportunities to work towards an asylum system which treats people with fairness and dignity. The conference gave us a flavour of harmony and joy too, with uplifting performances from the Ugandan Acholi Choir and Pentecostal Gospel music from the local Redeemed Christian Church of God (pictured). It was a powerful reminder of the gift of the presence of asylum-seekers, refugees and migrants in our communities. View a video of the Redeemed Christian Church of God choir here.