Dear friends,

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

The last school year truly ended with a bang, with a huge number of schools receiving the School of Sanctuary award. During the last school year we awarded more than 140 schools, up from 90 awards in the previous school year - what a mind-boggling achievement! 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 people and children already in the UK and those who are desperately trying to seek safety here [learn more about it here]. We all need to speak up to challenge this worrying trend of heartless policies that undermine our efforts to build welcome as Schools of Sanctuary. Don't underestimate the power we each have to overhaul this cruelty - 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 exciting free workshops from a range of partners and speakers with lived experience, along with recent activities from schools in our networks, latest research and articles to help guide your practice and upcoming events and trainings to support you throughout the start of the year. You can also see newsletters from our local Schools of Sanctuary networks in Birmingham and North Tyneside.

Finally a massive thank you to the schools that have raised money for Schools of Sanctuary during the Refugee Week big fundraiser - last year we offered more than ever, with the same tiny team and this year we have even bigger plans! If you find the Schools of Sanctuary programme helpful, please donate to help us continue to grow.

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. 

We look forward to seeing all you achieve this year!

Warm wishes,
Megan, Schools of Sanctuary lead
[email protected]

We're delighted to welcome Arellian Nursery School, Holy Cross Nursery School, St Luke's Nursery School, Good Shepherd Nursery School, McArthur Nursery School, Sandbrook Nursery School (Belfast); St Bernard's Catholic Primary School, St Martin de Porres Catholic Primary School, Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School, St Brigid's Catholic Primary School (Birmingham); Westminster CE Primary Academy, St Mary's and St Peter's Catholic Primary School (Bradford); St Mellon’s Church in Wales, Windsor Clive Primary School, Thornhill Primary School, St Paul’s Church in Wales Primary School, Trelai Primary School, (Cardiff); Blue Coat Church of England School (Coventry);  Bligh’s Lane Nursery School, The Academy Nursery School (Derry/Londonderry); Belmont Community School (Durham); Hatherley Infant School, St James CofE Junior School (Gloucester); Kingsland CE Primary School (Herefordshire); Allerton Church of England Primary (Leeds);  Woolton Primary School, North Liverpool Academy, Matthew Arnold Primary School, The Beacon Church of England Primary School, Ellergreen Nursery and Childcare Centre, Stockton Wood Primary School, Faith Primary Academy (Liverpool); Portfields Primary School (Milton Keynes); Cringleford Primary School (Norfolk); John Spence Community High School, St Columba's Catholic Primary School, Richardson Dees Primary School, Norham High School, Marden High School (North Tyneside); The Reading School (Reading); Ysgol Esgob Morgan (St Asaph); Lawn Manor Academy (Swindon); All Saints CofE Academy (Tees Valley); Christ Church CE Primary School (Wirral); Villiers Primary School (Wolverhampton) as our newest Schools of Sanctuary.

A massive congratulations also to Allens Croft Primary School, Nelson Mandela Primary School, (Birmingham), Cradoc School (Brecon); Leeds City Academy (Leeds); Anfield Road Primary School, New Park Primary School, St Michael’s Catholic Primary School, Kirkdale St Lawrence Church of England Primary School, Childwall Abbey School, Banks Road Primary School, St Margaret’s Anfield Church of England Primary School, (Liverpool); Framingham Earl High School (Norfolk), St John's Primary and Nursery School (Southampton); Hillside Primary School, Lingham Primary School, West Kirby Primary School, Park Primary School, St John's Catholic Infants School, Liscard Primary School (Wirral) for being reaccredited as Schools of Sanctuary.

Award Coverage

• Schools in North Tyneside were proud to share their achievement with BBC Look North and ITV. Watch the segment here.
• A Derry/Londonderry nursery also talked about their efforts in local news outlet DerryNow. Read the article. 
• The first School of Sanctuary in Denbighshire share their pride in receiving the award in their local press. Learn more here.
• Faith Primary School in Everton discuss what earning the awards means to them in Educate magazine. Read here.

Click here find out more about the awards process.

City of Sanctuary is working with the Refugee Council and other Families Together coalition members to highlight the cruelty of current refugee family reunion rules.

Imagine fleeing war, but having to leave your mum, dad, brother, sister or grandparents behind during a traumatic escape. Eventually you reach safety in the UK and are allowed to stay here – but your family is still in danger and the law means they can’t join you. You worry about them constantly- the uncertainty and stress mean you’re unable to rebuild your life.

Right now, this is the reality for many refugees, including refugee children, who are denied the right to be with the people they love by needlessly strict UK laws.

Based around Dad Jokes, the new actions will shine a light on the unfair rules keeping families apart. Simply put: family reunion rules are a bad joke. We're hoping that a more humorous campaign will cut through into new audiences. It would be great to see you all involved!

We’ll be collecting the UK’s favourite dad jokes to raise awareness of the thousands of refugee children separated from their parents because of the UK’s unfair laws. Whether your dad ever tells awful jokes, or you’re the joker in your family, it’s a chance for everyone to put their bad dad jokes to good use.

There are lots of ways for schools to participate in this fun but powerful campaign:

• Children can send write-your-own dad joke postcards to their MPs,
• Children can submit their favourite dad jokes to be printed in our joke book which will be sent to the Minister for Immigration along with recommendations. Submit here.
• You can film children saying their favourite Dad joke (and what they think about it!), or film parent/carers and children sharing their favourite joke and share online, remembering to tag @SchsofSanctuary, @FamTogetherCo and using the hashtag #FamiliesTogether.

Want to learn more? See the Families Together Teaching Resources.

Whatever your do, make sure to take pictures and share them with us on social media or by email whatever you choose to do! Learn more here.

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