Justice Garden plaque unveiling celebrates University support for refugees and asylum seekers

Staff, students, invited guests, young asylum seekers from The City of Liverpool College and alumni of the University of Liverpool came together on 18 June 2026 to celebrate the Justice Garden Project and commemorate the University's tradition of offering refuge and opportunity to those displaced by conflict.

Now in its second year, the Justice Garden, located next to the University of Liverpool School of Law and Social Justice on Chatham Street, started as a nondescript patch of green space. In 2024, staff from the School of Law and Social Justice worked with the University to establish a gardening project with local young asylum seekers to support them during the summer holidays. When schools and colleges are closed, many young asylum seekers become particularly vulnerable to exploitation and social isolation. The University provided the land and basic materials and, with additional fundraising and donations from businesses, dozens of young people have worked with community gardener Sioned Edwards to create a sanctuary for wellbeing, cross-community integration and shared learning.

Thirty young people took part in the project this year, which is delivered in partnership with The City of Liverpool College. The programme comprises two six-week sessions during the academic year, alongside additional summer sessions, and is now integrated into the young people's curriculum.

This year’s celebration of the garden was particularly special as the University unveiled a commemorative plaque recognising Hungarian refugee students who arrived in the UK in October 1957 after fleeing conflict and persecution during the Hungarian Revolution.

The plaque honours the courage of eleven Hungarian refugee students who continued their education in Liverpool and went on to forge fulfilling lives and careers. Their story stands as a powerful example of their tenacity and the transformative power of education.

A special moment during the event was the presence of Dr Andrew Zsigmond, one of the original students. After studying Medicine at Liverpool, Dr Zsigmond remained in the city throughout his career, making a lasting contribution to the community. He offered words of hope, encouragement and inspiration to the young asylum seekers, many of whom arrived unaccompanied in the UK and continue to live with uncertainty and trauma as they await the outcome of their asylum claims.

The Justice Garden Project is led by Professor Helen Stalford of the School of Law and Social Justice and delivered by community gardener Sioned Edwards of Pont y Tŵr. The programme has benefited from the financial support of the P&A Garden Centre, The Social Brokers, The Tin Shed and the University of Liverpool Gardening Team.