Dear friends,

Did you know that 80% of people in Britain want an asylum system that is well-managed, fair and compassionate?

Sadly, that's far from what we have now - but together we can work towards a kinder and fairer system and culture for people seeking safety.

Policies and governments come and go, so if we’re going to achieve real lasting systemic change in the way people seeking sanctuary are treated, it will be by shifting public attitudes.

By raising awareness amongst their staff and students about the experiences of people seeking safety in the UK, challenging misconceptions and building empathy colleges can play their part in making this happen. As influential institutions, FE Colleges can also play a far larger role and this summer we are challenging our colleges network to identify and pitch a positive story of welcome to their local press. Read on for more details of what this could look like and what support we can offer.

Beyond the institutional level - you (yes, YOU!) as an individual can also play your part, and it's the smallest, ever day actions like a conversation that can have the biggest impact. We know that it can be hard to know what to say, so our free 'Speak up for Sanctuary' training programme will  help you turn your compassion into action and feel confident in those tricky conversations. Join us on the 8th May to learn more and get access to our fun and engaging handbook to help you prepare.

We thank you for your ongoing commitment to welcome - we know that together we can realise our vision of a kinder, fairer approach to people seeking safety in the UK.

On a practical note - we've been hearing about a worrying number of cases of children being wrongfully age assessed as adults. This suddenly results in significant barriers to their education, being housed with and sometimes sharing rooms with adults, and the risk of exploitation and further harm to their mental health. The devastating impact of incorrect age assessment is heart-breakingly clear in this first-person account recently shared in the Metro.

Colleges are often the first trusted institutions that children seeking safety come into contact with and play a vital role supporting them - this can extend to their journey through the asylum system. In our latest blog, we share advice and resources to help you support children and their families during this challenging experience, including during age assessment, accommodation move-on, and in their asylum claims more generally.

Read on for stream updates, details of more resources and opportunities, upcoming events and trainings, and a suggested collective action - let's amplify our compassion together!

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

Many thanks to the FE Colleges who have recently submitted their final applications - it has been such a joy to read about inspiring activities and practice happening across the UK.

A warm welcome to Redcar and Cleveland College who recently signed the supporting organisation pledge and formally joined our network. This is the first step to becoming an FE College of Sanctuary!

Please note we ask that individual colleges within college groups/partnerships to sign the pledge if they want to achieve the award.

Click here find out more about the awards process.

Shift the Narrative: Amplify your Compassion!

This term we're challenging our FE College of Sanctuary network to help us shift the narrative about people seeking sanctuary by pitching positive stories to our local press. We want our communities to see the people behind the headlines and public rhetoric, learn how new arrivals enrich our communities and see that we are proud to be building cultures of welcome. 

Have you got an inspiring story of a student with lived experience of forced migration achieving phenomenal grades, leading sports teams to victory or beating the odds to be offered a place at university?

Are your ESOL students volunteering with a local cause, or do you have a project where students welcome and support newly arrived peers?

Do you have a story of friendship between new arrivals and local-born and raised students?

Is your college community coming together to support a local refugee organisation or stand up for welcome?

These are all powerful stories that can introduce a new perspective to people in your community. Work with your students to pitch a story to your local press and help students flex their leadership and citizenship skills by having their voices heard.

Use our 'Local Media Challenge: Amplify your compassion' toolkit and resources to help - and make sure to share your successful media pieces with us! If you need further help, contact our Comms Manager at comms@uk.cityofsanctuary.org who can help you pull your pitch together.

Not only is this an important way we can work to build empathy, challenge hostility and foster welcoming communities, but a great way to celebrate your college's sanctuary efforts. This activity can also help you meet the FE College of Sanctuary criteria [11, 12].

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.