How do African migrant young people use faith, spirituality and community networks to make sense of migration, identity and belonging in UK

African Migrant Youth, Religion and Spirituality: Birmingham Dissemination Workshop

How do African migrant young people use faith, spirituality and community networks to make sense of migration, family, identity and belonging in the UK?

Date: Saturday 5 September 2026

Time: 10:00-15:00

Venue: thestudio, 7 Cannon Street, Birmingham B2 5EP

Join the University of Glasgow RASTAY project team for an in-person dissemination workshop sharing findings from the ESRC-funded project The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Transnational Young People of African Migrant Backgrounds.

Birmingham has been one of the project’s key UK research sites. This workshop will explore how Nigerian and Zimbabwean young people draw on churches, mosques, digital religious spaces, family networks and community organisations as they navigate everyday life, migration, racism, loneliness, aspiration and belonging.

The event will move beyond academic discussion by asking how research evidence can support young people, strengthen community and faith-based work, and inform public and policy conversations.

Who should attend?

This workshop is open to Nigerian and Zimbabwean young people, African diaspora communities, parents, faith leaders, youth workers, community organisations, practitioners, local stakeholders, policymakers, students and researchers interested in migration, religion, spirituality, youth and belonging.

Age guidance: The workshop is primarily intended for participants aged 18 and over. Young people under 18 may attend with a parent, guardian or responsible adult.

Workshop highlights

· Research findings: Short presentations from the RASTAY team on religion, spirituality, migration, identity and belonging among African migrant youth.

· Community discussion: A facilitated conversation on the role of faith, spirituality, family, digital religion and community networks in young people’s lives.

· From research to action: Discussion of what the findings mean for youth support, faith communities, mental health, social belonging and policy engagement.

· Infographics and public resources: An interactive session sharing project infographics and inviting feedback on how findings can be communicated to wider audiences.

· Next steps and recommendations: Participants’ insights will help shape future policy briefs, community resources and the final project report.

Find out more about the RASTAY project: https://rastay.org/

Practical information

Registration

This is a free in-person event. Registration is required via Eventbrite as places are limited.

Lunch and refreshments

Lunch and light refreshments will be provided. Please indicate any dietary requirements when registering.

Accessibility

We aim to make the workshop accessible and inclusive. Please contact the organisers as early as possible if you have any access requirements or if there is anything we can do to support your participation.

Contact

For questions about the workshop, please contact: Nomatter.Sande@glasgow.ac.uk

Photography and consent

Photographs may be taken during the event for project reporting, dissemination and communication purposes. We will ask for consent before taking or using identifiable images. Participants who do not wish to be photographed will be able to opt out.

Recording

The workshop will not be audio- or video-recorded without prior notice and consent.

Data and participation

The workshop is part of the RASTAY project’s dissemination and impact activities. Contributions during discussions may inform future project outputs, including policy briefs, public engagement resources and the final project report. No personal comments will be attributed to individuals without consent.

Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.

Description supplied by the event organiser.