Dear friends,

Welcome back after what I hope has been a relaxing and meaningful summer holiday. 

The last academic year truly ended with a bang, with five colleges awarded in the summer term, taking us to a total of 19 awarded FE Colleges of Sanctuary! A massive well done to all those who were successfully awarded and I look forward to getting to know those of you working towards this year.

Despite this amazing growth of our network, in the last days of the summer term the cruel Illegal Migration Bill passed in parliament, threatening the futures of young people already in the UK and those who are desperately trying to seek safety here [learn more about it here]. We all have a role in speaking up against this worrying trend of heartless policies that undermine our efforts to build welcome as FE Colleges of Sanctuary. Don't underestimate the power we each have to stop this pattern of hostility - join the next session of our Speak up for Sanctuary course in September to learn what you can do in your everyday conversations. 

In this newsletter we share the latest resources and opportunities, including the next cohort of the 'Welcoming Refugee Students in FE Colleges' course co-developed with Refugee Education UK, the latest research and articles to help guide your practice and upcoming events and trainings to support you throughout the start of the year. Keep a particular eye out for our BRAND NEW Application Guidance note.

Keep on reading for our next application deadlines and details of how to get involved and strengthen your application over the coming year!

As always please do get in touch if there is a certain resource or training you're looking for or if you need any advice on how to move forward with your sanctuary efforts. 

Kind regards,
Sara, Further Education Colleges of Sanctuary Lead
sara.trewhitt@cityofsanctuary.org

Join the next cohort of the City of Sanctuary UK and Refugee Education UK 'Welcoming Refugee Students in FE Colleges' online training course.

Sessions include:

• Welcoming Refugees: An Overview and Introduction (6th and 8th November). Book now.
• Planning for Positive Enrolment (13th and 15th November). Book now.
• Planning for Academic Success ( 27th and 29th November). Book now.

See attached flyer for further details

NB: Building staff expertise and reviewing provision and practice is a big part of the FE College of Sanctuary award, so attending this course will help you to meet the some of the criteria to be awarded an FE College of Sanctuary.

Make the most of this academic year by taking the plunge and working to become and FE College of Sanctuary this year!

What are the steps?

1. Sign the supporting organisation pledge and announce your journey. Be connected with your Colleges of Sanctuary contact.

2. Connect to the Colleges of Sanctuary network and local sanctuary networks to build collaborations and exchange ideas.

3. Review and refine existing provision and practice against the minimum criteria. Use the audit tool and application guidance document to help guide you in making an action plan and fill in the application form.

4. Submit an application and your evidence portfolio to your Colleges of Sanctuary contact.

5. On earning a successful award decision, submit the award fee and once received celebrate your award with you college community!

Important Dates

• 1st December 2023 – Confirm intention to move forward with application this year.
• 19th January 2024 – Submit a draft application and evidence portfolio. If strong, you will be invited to submit a final application.
• 1st March 2024 – Submit final application and evidence portfolio and ensure City of Sanctuary UK is set up as a supplier.
• 15th-26th April 2024 – Arrange an appraisal meeting/visit. Following this visit, the appraisal team will confirm their decision on your application and, if successful, you must transfer the award fee before announcing your successful award.

To help us provide the best support to you throughout this college year, complete this super short survey to let us know what online content you would prefer.

In the summer term, we were delighted to welcome Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College [BHASVIC], Basingstoke College of Technology, Cardiff and Vale College, Leeds City College and Leeds University College as our newest FE Colleges of Sanctuary.

Read more about the award celebrations of the Leeds Further Education Centres here: FE News | Leeds education centres awarded sanctuary status.

We're delighted to see that BHASVIC also attended and presented about their journey to being an FE College of Sanctuary at the Festival of Education. See here.

Click here find out more about the awards process.

• Access to FE Education for Parent/Carers with Lived Experience: We know that accessing education is difficult for people with children, especially those in the asylum system. We're keen to hear of ways colleges help students overcome this issue. Do you offer free childcare (particularly to students not eligible for public funds)? Get in touch to let us know...
• Education for Newly Displaced Teenagers: Children that arrive in the UK in their mid-late teens typically find accessing education far harder than younger children. Refugee Education UK and the Bell Foundation are conducting important research to better understand this issue and ways to overcome these barriers. If you work with displaced youth aged 13-18 please participate in this short survey. Respond now.
• No Dad Jokes Without Dad Collective Action: Join the Refugee Council's efforts to raise awareness about the thousands of children cruelly separated from their families due to harsh family reunion rules by collating staff and students' favourite Dad jokes. Set up a stall in the main reception or create a collaborative art display to collect people's jokes, and then send in to the Refugee Council. Make sure to take photos and share online tagging in @FamiliesTogetherCo and @CityofSanctuary, using the hashtag #FamiliesTogether. Learn more.
• Send a Message of Welcome to a Refugee Child: Help staff and students show their support for people seeking sanctuary by writing messages and drawings of welcome to refugee children. Learn more.

Together, we are building a culture of welcome. If you understand the vital importance of Colleges of Sanctuary, please dig deep and help us to spread welcome in colleges during these very challenging times. Click here to donate. Thank you.