Migration in Focus - Voices From The UK

A large part of children in Britain today have an immigration background, whether they were born here to foreign parents or moved here with their families. Many of us grow up alongside classmates and friends whose lives are shaped by more than one country, more than one culture. What do we know about these children who grow up moving between countries, navigating multiple languages, and living across cultures? In this episode, I speak with Lilo, a British-Taiwanese teenager who was born in Britain and has also lived in the Czech Republic and Taiwan. Lilo shares what it’s like to grow up moving between countries, speaking multiple languages, tasting different kinds of food, and navigating identities that don’t always fit neatly into one box. Along the way, she has faced moments of stereotyping, but also the quiet beauty of belonging to more than one world. Yet, what makes Lilo Lilo isn’t just her background or the countries she’s lived in. It’s her passions, her hobbies, and the everyday choices that define who she is, a reminder that a person’s story is never only about where they come from, but also about who they choose to be.If you value this work, please consider supporting us. We've created a Patreon Community. Your contribution, no matter the size, helps us continue creating thoughtful, impactful episodes. To contact us: [email protected] stay up to date, like our Facebook page.

Approximately one third of all foreign-born adults in the UK entered the country through family reunification, while many others who arrived for different reasons later chose to marry a British citizen. Behind these figures are everyday lives, relationships, and families navigating love, belonging, and uncertainty. What does it mean to love across borders, to marry a foreign resident, and to raise a family that brings together two worlds? In this episode, I speak with Ross, a British citizen married to a Polish woman. They met at work, fell in love, chose to marry, and eventually welcomed a daughter. In our conversation, Ross opens his heart and speaks candidly about how their relationship has grown over time, shaped by the ordinary joys and pressures of family life, but also by the weight of rising anti-immigration sentiment and increasingly restrictive rules affecting immigrants and new residents. Alongside these challenges, Ross reflects on the quiet richness of transnational family life: the gift of multiple languages, layered identities, and a sense of belonging that reaches beyond borders. At its core, his story is one of care, resilience, and hope.  Ross’s deepest wish is for a world in which acceptance of diversity sits at the heart of how people relate to one another.If you value this work, please consider supporting us. We've created a Patreon Community. Your contribution, no matter the size, helps us continue creating thoughtful, impactful episodes. To contact us: [email protected] stay up to date, like our Facebook page.

Welcome to Migration in Focus: Voices from the UK. This series explores British people’s perspectives on some of today’s most pressing issues in the UK and beyond: immigration, integration, and the coexistence of local citizens and newcomers. These themes touch all of us, whether we are migrants ourselves or native citizens.In an increasingly polarised climate, the goal of this podcast is to foster a more nuanced and constructive dialogue—one that seeks to listen and inquire, rather than label, one that aspires to understand, rather than simply reinforce a position. Our podcast is completely free and accessible to everyone. But producing content that raises awareness and sparks meaningful conversations about migration, integration, and coexistence in the UK requires resources. If you value this work, please consider supporting us. We've created a Patreon Community. Your contribution—no matter the size—helps us continue creating thoughtful, impactful episodes.To contact us [email protected] stay up to date, like our Facebook page.