We’re proud to share that BID’s Rwanda Project has been shortlisted for the Best Use of Law category at the 2025 Sheila McKechnie Foundation National Campaigner Awards.

These awards honour campaigners across the UK who are using their voices and their work to drive positive social change. The Best Use of Law category recognises strategic legal action that challenges injustice, and we’re honoured that our legal work resisting the UK government’s Rwanda deportation policy is being recognised in this way.

The Rwanda Project was launched in direct response to the government’s plan to forcibly remove people seeking asylum in the UK to Rwanda. Through legal casework, litigation, and public advocacy, our team has worked to stop individual removals, support people in detention, and challenge the legality of the policy itself. Our work has helped ensure that many people have not been forcibly deported and has exposed the deep injustice and cruelty of this scheme.

"We’re proud that our fight against the unjust detention and removal of vulnerable asylum seekers to Rwanda has been recognised by this shortlist. We secured bail for every client—many of whom have since been granted asylum. Since the Rwanda Plan was scrapped, the partnership has evolved and continues to support vulnerable adults in detention through vital bail work.” - Tara Wolfe, Former Rwanda Project Legal Manager, Bail for Immigration Detainees

Huge thanks to our partner firms A&O Shearman (previously Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling), Herbert Smith Freehills, Reed Smith, and Simmons & Simmons for their invaluable support. We’re especially proud to share this recognition with exceptional pro bono lawyers who worked tirelessly alongside us. 

We’re grateful to the Sheila McKechnie Foundation for this recognition and proud to stand alongside other campaigners working for dignity, fairness, and accountability. We look forward to the awards ceremony and to continuing the work to ensure that the UK treats those seeking safety with humanity.

Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID) is a registered Charity No. 1077187. Registered in England as a Limited Company No. 03803669. Accredited by the Immigration Advice Authority Ref. No. N200100147. We are a member of the Fundraising Regulator, committed to best practice in fundraising and follow the standards for fundraising as set out in the Code of Fundraising Practice.
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