We are deeply saddened and disturbed by the far-right march that took place in London this weekend.

At its heart, this march was about spreading hate and fear – directed at immigrants, refugees, and those seeking sanctuary in our country. It sought to stigmatise difference and intimidate communities who already face huge challenges. Within this, it is clear that Islam and Muslim communities were the main targets of hostility. Visibly Muslim people are particularly vulnerable and often bear the brunt of this hatred.

From our work across the country, we know that public expressions of hate like this have profound and lasting impacts on people’s mental health. For immigrants and refugees who have come here seeking safety and hope, such demonstrations can reopen trauma, deepen fear, and make people feel unwelcome in the very communities they now call home. For Muslim communities, the daily drip of Islamophobia is exhausting and traumatising, creating a constant anxiety that undermines wellbeing.

The recent attack in Oldbury, where a Sikh woman was raped in what is being investigated as a racially motivated assault, is a stark and painful reminder that this kind of hatred does not remain confined to words or marches. It emboldens violence. Women in particular face intersecting risks of racism, religious hatred, and misogyny.

To those affected – immigrants, refugees, Muslims, racialised communities, and all people who feel less safe because of their identity – we want to say that we stand with you.

As an Association, we represent organisations providing frontline mental health services in communities across the country. Every day, they support people carrying the scars of exclusion, trauma, and fear. For those affected by hate and racism, these services are lifelines – offering counselling, crisis support, supported housing, advocacy, and spaces where people can begin to rebuild their sense of safety and belonging. Our members are working at the sharp edge of harm, building connection where hate tries to divide.

And our values are not abstract. They are reflected in our leadership. The Association is led by a Chief Executive who is a brown, Muslim, immigrant woman – and this lived experience strengthens our unwavering commitment to standing against hate in all its forms, and to championing the rights, dignity, and mental health of those most marginalised.

But this work cannot fall on our sector alone. We need political leaders, public institutions, and all parts of civil society to stand firmly against hate – whether directed at immigrants, refugees, Muslims, or any other community. Silence enables harm; strong leadership and solidarity protect lives.

We must remember that immigrants and refugees enrich our society, bringing culture and contribution. Muslim communities, alongside so many others, are integral to the fabric of this country. The values we should be lifting are those of compassion, justice, and dignity – not division and fear.

This weekend’s march, just a year after last summer’s racist riots, is a painful reminder of the risks we face if hate is allowed to spread unchecked. But it must also be a call to action: to build communities where difference is celebrated, where every person feels safe, and where people’s human rights are protected. The Association and its members will continue to play our part, but we call on all of society to join us.