City of Sanctuary is a British charitable organisation whose purpose is to build a movement of welcome across the UK, predominantly for asylum seekers and refugees, by coordinating and supporting networks of community groups across the UK and Ireland.[2][3] It claims to be a grassroots movement.[3]
| Founded | 2005 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Craig Barnett and Inderjit Bhogal |
| Type | Non-profit |
Key people | Sian Summers-Rees (CEO), Sabir Zazai (Hon. President)[1] |
| Website | https://cityofsanctuary.org/ |
City of Sanctuary began in 2005 in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, founded by Craig Barnett and Inderjit Bhogal. In 2007, Sheffield became the UK’s first ‘City of Sanctuary’ – "a city that takes pride in the welcome it offers to people in need of safety."[4][3] Subsequently, cities such as Leeds, Hull,[5] York,[6] and Swansea started their own community groups to work towards the same purpose, and City of Sanctuary became a registered charity with the purpose of supporting and connecting these groups.
Activity
editCity of Sanctuary is involved in coordinating and supporting various multi-sector community groups, with connections to other related organisations in the UK such as the Refugee Council, British Red Cross, and Refugee Action[citation needed]. They also participated in the Sanctuary Summit in 2014, and were selected in 2015 for the Guardian Christmas Appeal, amid the response to the 2015 European migrant crisis.[7][8][9][10]
From 2014 to 2018, City of Sanctuary hosted an event in parliament alongside the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees, which invited refugees and asylum seekers from across the UK to meet and share stories with MPs. City of Sanctuary additionally designates "Streams of Sanctuary", based around a particular theme, which are implemented across various sectors including education,[11][12][13][14][15][16] local authorities,[17] faith groups[18] and the arts.[19][20][21]
Sanctuary Awards
editCity of Sanctuary offers awards to community groups, private organisations, public sector services or other bodies that contribute towards the vision of the charity, as follows:
- In 2015 the first "Sports Club of Sanctuary" was awarded to Brighton Table Tennis Club.[22]
- In 2016 the first "Theatre Company of Sanctuary" was awarded to Stand & Be Counted (SBC).[23]
- In 2017 the first "Festival of Sanctuary" was awarded to Journeys Festival.[24]
- In 2021 the first "Local Authority of Sanctuary" was awarded to Lewisham London Borough Council. [25]
- In 2021 the first "Art Gallery of Sanctuary" was awarded to the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery in Swansea.[26]
- In 2022 the first "Station of Sanctuary" was awarded to Bradford Interchange.
References
edit- ^ "Trustees". cityofsanctuary.org. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
- ^ "From lost and lonely to safe and busy: the refugees helped by City of Sanctuary". The Guardian. 2015-12-26. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
- ^ a b c "About City of Sanctuary | City of Sanctuary". www.cityofsanctuary.org. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "Little Amal: Sheffield crowds welcome 'refugee' puppet". BBC News. 2021-10-29. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ^ Campbell, James (2021-11-16). "Hull City of Sanctuary: Refugee's fears for family back in Afghanistan". HullLive. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ^ "York City of Sanctuary: its achievements and the seismic shift necessary". 7 September 2021.
- ^ "City of Sanctuary: Bristol rallies to help refugees as aid network swells". The Guardian. 2015-09-06. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
- ^ "We Stand Together: The Guardian and Observer charity appeal continues". The Guardian. 2015-12-25. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ^ "Lewisham to become Borough of Sanctuary for refugees – Eastlondonlines". www.eastlondonlines.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ^ "Cheshire West to become borough of sanctuary for refugees". Northwich Guardian. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ^ "City of Sanctuary: how Paddington Bear is helping pupils welcome refugees". The Guardian. 2015-12-06. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
- ^ "North Belfast primary school celebrating diversity as School of Sanctuary". ITV News. 2021-11-26. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ^ "College of Sanctuary honour for Gower College Swansea". FE News. 2021-08-31. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ^ Bristol, University of. "September: University of Sanctuary | News and features | University of Bristol". www.bristol.ac.uk. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
- ^ "University of Exeter". www.exeter.ac.uk. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
- ^ Hare, Susan (2021-11-22). "The University of Stirling is trying to become a 'University of Sanctuary'". Brig Newspaper. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ^ "Signing up to the City of Sanctuary Local Authorities Network | Local Government Association". lgaindependent.local.gov.uk. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
- ^ "Cathedral of Sanctuary-Our Journey". Christ Church Cathedral Dublin. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ^ "Leicester museum honoured for welcoming the persecuted". InYourArea.co.uk. 2021-02-17. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ^ House, Hebden Bridge Picture. "Cinema of Sanctuary". Hebden Bridge Picture House. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ^ Gregory, Rhys (2021-11-25). "Glynn Vivian becomes first UK Art Gallery of Sanctuary". Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ^ "UK first for Sanctuary Club Brighton". Table Tennis England. 31 May 2016. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ "SBC Theatre". SBC Theatre. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ^ "The first festival of sanctuary - Journeys Festival International". journeysfestival. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ^ "Lewisham Borough of Sanctuary".
- ^ Gregory, Rhys (2021-11-25). "Glynn Vivian becomes first UK Art Gallery of Sanctuary". Retrieved 2021-11-30.