Rob Yates is a member of Thanet District Council. From May 2023 to May 2024 he served as the Mayor of Margate and organised several protests supporting the rights and dignity of people seeking asylum.

Rob Yates is a member of Thanet District Council. From May 2023 to May 2024 he served as the Mayor of Margate and organised several protests supporting the rights and dignity of people seeking asylum.

“I first heard about Refugees at Home in 2015,” said Rob. “I was involved in setting up Swindon City of Sanctuary but I wasn’t able to host. Then when I moved to Margate I got a two-bed flat, had the space, and hosted a couple of times.”

In September 2023, the Home Office started using a local hotel as asylum accommodation, a measure that faced hostility from right-wing campaigners and politicians. As mayor, Rob organised monthly welcome meetings between locals and the hotel residents, helping them make connections and feel like a part of the community.

The strength of these connections became apparent in early 2024 when the government informed some of those staying in the hotel that they were to be sent to the Bibby Stockholm.

“Within two weeks we had a 300-person strong WhatsApp group and an action group ready to protest in support of the asylum seekers at very short notice.”

In addition to campaigning, Rob got in touch with us about hosting Salman, a young man from Pakistan and one of those at threat from the Home Office’s decision.

“I couldn’t ask for a better guest,” said Rob. “He was involved in several different voluntary organisations in Margate, all while preparing to go to university.

“He pushed me to become a better person because he was really interested in trying new things – whether that was playing the guitar or learning more about the farm he volunteered at. He ended up teaching me things I had no idea about – including a lot about Pakistani music.

“Salman had a very close friend in Margate who was also from Pakistan. They came to the UK at the same time and would cook and go on walks together. For some reason he wasn’t told to go to the Bibby Stockholm and suddenly, after facing living in completely different locations, keeping them together seemed like the right thing to do and Refugees at Home were brilliant in making that happen at short notice.”

Now, Salman’s asylum application has been granted and he’s on the International Foundation Programme at the University of Reading. He and Rob are still in touch and often meet up when he visits Margate.

“Hosting gives someone the opportunity to put their words into action. You get to be part of a movement showing that British values are welcoming and generous. From my experience, what you get back from hosting is even more than what you put in.”

For Rob, a friend’s recent experience showcases the difference grassroots support can make: “She was on a train and a stranger asked where they were from. When she said Margate they replied: ‘Oh, that’s the place where you’re nice to refugees!’

“As a politician who is trying to create change, that was really nice to hear.”

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