Groundbreaking refugee leadership celebrated at 2026 Lord Dubs Awards

Two exceptional leaders were lauded at HIAS+JCORE’s fourth Lord Dubs Awards at a special ceremony in central London last week (4 November).

HIAS+JCORE was honoured that longstanding refugee rights campaigner Lord Dubs presented the awards.

The first, the 2026 Dubs Award for Outstanding Commitment, was given to Aderonke Apata.

Aderonke has worked for more than a decade to transform her own lived experience into systemic, lasting change for marginalised communities. In 2014 she founded the African Rainbow Family which has subsequently supported over 600 LGBTQ+ people to secure refugee status in the UK.

Aderonke’s determination to empower others also led to her qualifying as a Barrister and Called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2022. Our judging panel were thoroughly impressed by her long-term dedication to refugee rights and anti-racism, with Aderonke now using her legal expertise to directly fight for human rights and equal access to justice.

She becomes the fourth recipient of this prestigious prize, joining Dr Edie Friedman (2023), Dr Richard Stone (2024), and last year’s winner, Deborah Koder.

HIAS+JCORE was then pleased to recognise Abdulrahman Bidwi, an exemplary young leader, with our second ever Dubs Legacy Award for Emerging Leaders.

A graduate of Safe Passage’s Young Leader Programme, Abdulrahman has played a pivotal role in championing lived experience leadership in the organisation – first as an Expert by Experience consultant, and now as a staff member. His highlights include supporting work that increased the number of staff with lived experience by over 20%, and co-designing the Young Leader’s Programme’s new strategy and theory of change.

Abdulrahman is also a fierce campaigner for safe routes and refugee rights. His activism has included multiple media interviews, speaking at panels at Party Conferences, and presenting to MPs and Peers in Parliament.

A record 25 nominations were received for the 2026 Lord Dubs Awards, highlighting incredible talent across the refugee sector and Jewish community.

In an opening keynote for the award ceremony, Lord Dubs praised the excellent work of our 2026 winners, and efforts of groups across the country, including faith communities, who welcome refugees locally.

In his address, he also urged political leaders to be careful about the language they use. Stating that the rhetoric of “senior politicians can have a knock-on effect… in terms of relationships in communities”, he reflected that “the language has an influence on how we perceive our fellow human beings.”

Adding that the use of words like ‘invaders’ “imply hostility to people who have come here for safety”, Lord Dubs stated that “there are few things more important in life than giving safety to our fellow human beings who are the victims of war, persecution, and oppression.”

The ceremony followed an inspiring panel of senior faith leaders, discussing the role that faith leaders can play in forging a more compassionate, welcoming Britain. Chaired by Guardian journalist Aamna Mohdin, panellists Rabbi Charley Baginsky, Imam Monawar Hussain, and Bishop Rob Wickham spoke out for the need for a united approach to tackle prejudice, and to create a society where refugees and people seeking asylum find welcome and belonging.

Reflecting on the role faith leaders can play, Bishop Wickham affirmed that “so often we’re put in the position of debate… there has to be a winner, and there has to be a loser. As we know, life ain’t like that! So much as what we can bring as faith leaders is about creating a sense of the relational.”

Bishop Wickham also expressed his pain at seeing “the symbol of the cross being abused in the way in which it is” at anti-migrant and anti-refugee protests, calling out the “channels of misinformation” that are impacting communities and causing division in the UK.

Imam Monawar Hussain also stressed his concerns about how young people are being “shaped, influenced by all sorts of material that we might come across on social media”.

Speaking about actions Muslim and non-Muslims can take to tackle Islamophobia, in an environment where openly hostile rhetoric has become increasingly mainstream, he then underlined the importance of education.

Emphasising the need for “safe space(s) where young people can ask questions”, Imam Monawar shared his belief in creating opportunities “where people can experience each other’s cultures and learn about each other’s faiths”.

The discussion then moved on to consider how Jewish leaders can continue to encourage outward-looking identity and approaches, amidst a worrying backdrop of rising antisemitism. Rabbi Charley Baginsky, co-Lead of Progressive Judaism, highlighted the critical need for allyship.

Stating that while it is important to have difficult conversations about the fact that “there are people out there seeking to exploit that polarisation, to give voice to the hatred”, Rabbi Baginsky argued that it must also be “possible to encounter each other, to disagree, and sit and have conversation, and in that way we break down that sense of who is the ‘other’.”

Addressing the Jewish “responsibility to make the world a little better for others who come here”, she also spoke about the importance of “finding out what’s the story of the person sitting next to us – instead of talking about them”. Rabbi Baginsky also urged against “speaking about the other in a way that just exacerbates the fear that exists within many of our own communities. We shouldn’t just be reflecting those words back to our communities but actually challenging them.”

At a time of increased division and hostility towards displaced people in society, HIAS+JCORE is hugely proud to bring together leaders for a fairer, more responsible approach.

If you would like to support our mission for a Britain which empowers refugees to rebuild and find belonging, please donate to our 2026 fundraising appeal.

Rabbi David Mason, Executive Director of HIAS+JCORE, said: “Celebrating such incredible refugee leaders is a real honour and privilege. I’m proud that HIAS+JCORE’s Lord Dubs Awards ensure that such outstanding leadership and work receives the recognition it deserves. Our 2026 winners personify why that’s so important and demonstrate what people with lived experience can achieve when given a fair chance. I can’t wait to see what they go on to accomplish next.”

Abdulrahman Bdiwi, winner of the 2026 Dubs Award for Emerging Leaders, said: “I am deeply honoured to receive the Dubs Award for Emerging Leaders. As someone who came to the UK seeking safety, I know firsthand how life-changing it can be when people are met with compassion, opportunity and belief rather than barriers and doubt.

Lord Alf Dubs’ story reminds us that behind every refugee label is a person with potential, aspirations and something valuable to contribute. This award reflects not only my own journey, but the journeys of many refugees who, when given the chance, go on to lead, advocate and create positive change in their communities.

At a time when refugees continue to face hostility and uncertainty, I hope this recognition sends a simple message: everyone deserves safety, dignity and the opportunity to belong.”

Aderonke Apata, winner of the 2026 Dubs Award for Outstanding Commitment, said: “Standing here tonight as the winner of the prestigious 2026 Dubs Award for Outstanding Commitment, of a lifelong devotion to, and incredible work being done with refugees across the UK; my heart is incredibly full – but it is also heavy with the memories of the journey that brought me to this room.

To our extraordinary hosts and organisers, HIAS+JCORE – thank you for this profound honour, and thank you for your vision of being a fearless, guiding light for social justice, proving that welcoming the stranger is an absolute human imperative.

To be linked tonight to the legacy of Lord Alf Dubs is a privilege greater than words can express.

History connects us all in this room. In 1939, a young Alf Dubs, a child fleeing persecution in Prague, saved by the courage of Sir Nicholas Winton and the Kindertransport. He was met with open arms on a British railway platform because someone chose to look past fear and see a child in need of rescue.

Standing here as a fellow refugee who found their own path to freedom, I am reminded of the beautiful Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam – our shared responsibility to heal a broken world.

To look out at Kent House tonight and see that same spirit alive, I can only say: Baruch Hashem – thank God for this moment.”