Dear friends,
In the latest newsletter I wanted to take the opportunity to share some notable updates from the UK immigration sector.
The Refugee Council has recently highlighted plummeting numbers of refugee resettlement (shockingly only 766 refugees were resettled last year) whilst dangerous crossings continue. Harsh new UK visa rules about spousal income requirements and skilled worker visas will be concerning for students and staff in our universities and communities. Although this only affects first-time/ new applicants, this will result in spousal and family separation. Finally, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’s latest Concluding Observations on the UK have highlighted once again that the UK is failing to uphold the rights of children seeking sanctuary. It states they are subjected to unequal treatment & access to protection under the Illegal Migration Act invasive & unreliable age assessment processes, lack of family reunification pathways, and unequal & delayed access to public services.
Despite these heart-breaking news reports, we continue to be inspired by the role those in the Higher Education sector are playing in building a kinder future for people seeking sanctuary in the UK. Whether it's the mind-boggling number of sanctuary scholarships offered by the University of Edinburgh, a fantastic event-line up from many of our universities for Refugee Week in March, the new PhD scholarship at Heriot-Watt University, or the inspirational efforts of the University of Warwick's Sanctuary Scholars - our networks have a lot to be celebrate.
Read on for further details and many more examples from across the sector, alongside an exciting calendar of Universities Refugee Week events, a usual array of job opportunities, scholarships and latest resources.
Don't forget to share updates from your institution with us by email or on social media!
Kind regards,
Maryam, Universities of Sanctuary Lead & City of Sanctuary North West Regional Coordinator
[email protected]
Please note I work only work 2.5 days a week on Universities of Sanctuary and juggle multiple roles. We are currently experiencing unprecedented numbers of enquiries - thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. I will get back to you as soon as I can. | 
