UK for UNHCR

Working together to reach the most marginalised communities impacted by crises

United Kingdom for UNHCR is the UN Refugee Agency’s national partner for the United Kingdom, working to protect refugees and people forced to flee their homes. By driving advocacy and raising critical funds, they support UNHCR in delivering urgent humanitarian relief to displaced families across the globe.

The Swarovski Foundation has worked with UK for UNHCR since 2018, supporting multiple emergency appeals in response to crises in Afghanistan, Libya, Pakistan, Sudan, Syria, Türkiye and Ukraine. Alongside these emergencies, the Swarovski Foundation has also contributed to underfunded crises that often fall outside of the global spotlight, including in Iraq, South Sudan and Syria.

At the end of 2024, an estimated 123.2 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced due to persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations and events seriously disturbing the public order. This is an increase of 7 million people or 6% compared to the end of 2023.

Sourced by UNHCR, 2025.

Recognising that emergencies are growing in scale, pace and complexity, with more people being forced to flee than ever before due to natural hazards and disasters, epidemics, conflict and civil unrest, the Swarovski Foundation entered a new partnership with UK for UNHCR in 2025 focused on their Emergency Fund.

Images courtesy of UK for UNHCR

Hawa, 40, was preparing breakfast for her family when deadly fighting broke out in her hometown in Sudan’s Blue Nile State. There was no time to pack. She fled on foot with her children and her 80-year-old mother while gunshots rang out from the mountains. It took them three hours to reach the Ethiopian border. Despite her hard work, Hawa still struggles to provide meals for her family. She hopes the conflict ends soon so she can give her children a better life.

I hope my children can get a quality education and live in a safe environment where they can access healthcare.

Hawa

Explore more partners

Hobby Lobby

Hobby Lobby provides free courses to children at risk of poverty and, with support from the Swarovski Foundation in Austria, is empowering marginalised young people through its Youth Leaders Programme—building leadership skills and preparing them for education and employment.

Learning Equality

Learning Equality advances education for underserved communities, and with support from the Swarovski Foundation in Uganda, is delivering blended learning for 335+ refugee learners—building foundational and digital skills through its offline-first Kolibri platform.

Teach for Austria

Teach For Austria creates equal opportunities through education, and since 2014 the Swarovski Foundation has supported its work across Austria—training Fellows to teach in under-resourced schools and reaching over 4,000 children and young people.

Teach For Thailand

Teach For Thailand strengthens academic proficiency and opportunity through education, and since 2015 the Swarovski Foundation has supported its Fellowship Programme—training teachers in under-resourced schools and reaching nearly 7,800 students across Thailand.

Think Forward

ThinkForward supports young people at risk of becoming not in education, employment, or training, and through its partnership with the Swarovski Foundation in the UK, provides coaching, workplace experiences, and skills-building to help them prepare for their futures.

Room to Read

Room to Read addresses gender inequality through education, and since 2015 the Swarovski Foundation has supported its Girls’ Education Programme across Asia—reaching over 2,200 girls and supporting graduates progress into further education or employment.

Village Enterprise

Village Enterprise works to end extreme poverty in rural Africa through entrepreneurship, and with support from the Swarovski Foundation in Kenya, is training 555 first-time entrepreneurs to launch 185 businesses—benefiting over 3,600 individuals.

CSA Umzimvubu Catchment Spring Protection Concept Note Aug 2024 1

Conservation International

Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of people, and with the Swarovski Foundation’s support in South Africa, delivers water literacy and ecosystem restoration—empowering women and young people to safeguard springs, improve hygiene, and lead community water governance.

UK for UNHCR

UK for UNHCR supports the UN Refugee Agency’s global emergency response, and with support from the Swarovski Foundation, helps deliver life-saving aid within 72 hours of crises—providing shelter, protection, and healthcare to displaced families worldwide.