Dear friends,

The Refugee Ban Bill, more officially known as the Illegal Migration Bill, has now been passed into law. This is a dark moment for the UK and one that will have catastrophic consequences on people seeking sanctuary. Read more about the Bill and its implications here.

This law's injustice, cruelty and division being pushed do not represent us the people. That's why the City of Sanctuary movement is growing like never before - this month alone has seen, amongst many others, the University of Oxford become a University of Sanctuary and Newcastle Council become the latest awarded Local Authority of Sanctuary.

This is hope. And hope is powerful. Read on for ways that you can roll up your sleeves, build welcome and fight this anti-refugee law.

To get daily updates, follow our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Please spread the word by forwarding this email to five friends.

Last year saw growth in our networks like never before - but now our longer term future hangs in the balance. Two of our major funding grants will come to an end next year. That's the majority of our core funding. We need you to stand with us at this critical moment. If you can, please become a regular monthly donor. Your support will help us weather this storm and plan for the future.

If you have any ideas or want to support us further during these difficult times, please reach out to our Chief Officer on [email protected]

Our Sanctuary Awards programme recognises and celebrates the organisations and institutions who go above and beyond to foster welcome, compassion and empowering opportunities. This month we have had the honour of awarding...

Huge congratulations to Hackney Council who have passed a motion and officially joined our Local Authorities of Sanctuary network. Westminster Council are also now officially in the Network and Wokingham Borough Council have passed a motion to join.

We have reached a big milestone in our library network - with Cambridgeshire Libraries just awarded, we now have an enormous 266 awarded libraries! Congratulations, Cambridge Libraries!

We are delighted that the University of Sheffield and the University of Birmingham are new Universities of Sanctuary, and that the University of Reading and the University of Hull are now reaccredited, reaffirming their commitment to people seeking sanctuary.

An enormous well done and welcome to all these incredible Schools of Sanctuary who either have the award for the first time or are being reaccredited:Christ Church CE Primary School, Wirral, All Saints C of E Academy, the Tees Valley; Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School, Birmingham; Ormeau Library, Belfast; Allerton Church of England Primary, Leeds and The Reading School; St Brigid's Catholic Primary School, Birmingham; Nelson Mandela Primary School, Birmingham; Kingsland CE Primary School. Herefordshire; Hatherley Infant School, Gloucester; St James CofE Junior School, Gloucester; Anfield Road Primary School, Liverpool (reaccredited); New Park Primary School, Liverpool (reaccredited); Woolton Primary School, Liverpool; St Michael’s Catholic Primary School, Liverpool (reaccredited); North Liverpool Academy, Liverpool; Kirkdale St Lawrence Church of England Primary School, Liverpool (reaccredited); Matthew Arnold Primary School, Liverpool; The Beacon Church of England Primary School, Liverpool; Ellergreen Nursery and Childcare Centre, Liverpool; Stockton Wood Primary School, Liverpool; Childwall Abbey School, Liverpool (reaccredited); Faith Primary Academy, Liverpool; Banks Road Primary School, Liverpool (reaccredited); St Margaret’s Anfield Church of England Primary School, Liverpool (reaccredited); Villiers Primary School, Wolverhampton; Belmont Community School, Durham; Allens Croft Primary School, Birmingham; Ysgol Esgob Morgan, St. Asaph, Wales; St John's Primary and Nursery School, Southampton; Cringleford Primary School, Norfolk; Framingham Earl High School, Norfolk (reaccredited); Lawn Manor Academy, Swindon; Hillside Primary School, Wirral (reaccredited); Lingham Primary School, Wirral (reaccredited); West Kirby Primary School, Wirral (reaccredited); Park Primary School, Wirral (reaccredited); St John's Catholic Infants School, Wirral (reaccredited); Liscard Primary School, Wirral (reaccredited) Leeds City Academy, Leeds; Cradoc School, Brecon.

Each one of these awards is assessed by a panel which includes as a minimum, a local member of City of Sanctuary, someone with lived experience of seeking sanctuary and an expert in the field. An award lasts three years when it then must then be re-assesed. Find out more about the awards process here.

Refugee Ban Bill
The Illegal Migration Bill, or the Refugee Ban Bill, is now set to become law having completed its passage through parliament. As the UN has said, this law “extinguishes access to asylum” in the UK for anyone arriving by a route the government deems “irregular.”

Read more about the Bill and its implications here.

Please join us by adding your name to our joint open letter to the Prime Minister in a show of solidarity for people seeking safety. Click here to add you name.

This new law constitutes the biggest attack on the rights of people seeking asylum in the UK in modern times. Although its passing is a very dark day for all people seeking safety here and all those who support them, campaigners all across the country have fought hard to protect refugees’ rights and will continue to do so. We will work to oppose the implementation and ultimately repeal these anti refugee laws.   

We were proud to be among 290 organisations to publicly condemn the new law and stand in solidarity with all those who will be affected.

Campaigners can and should continue to make use of Asylum Matter's #AntiRefugeeLaws resources.

Notable upcoming dates:
International Day of the World's Indigenous People - 9 August
National Book Lovers Day - 9 August
International Youth Day - 12 August
World Humanitarian Day - 19 August
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition - 23 August

If any City of Sanctuary groups have any plans for these dates, please let our Communications Manager know on [email protected]

Speak Up For Sanctuary: new programme
Join us on 25 September at 6pm for this programme designed to support people who may have little or no previous campaigning experience to recognise their power in making change, to speak up for refugee rights and to supercharge efforts to build welcoming and compassionate communities. The course is perfect for people involved in City of Sanctuary groups and awarded organisations or anyone else hoping to turn their compassion into action. Register your free place here.

Libraries of Sanctuary Award Info Session
Join us on 6 September at 11am for a quick fire session to learn about the award process and for us to answer any questions. This is geared towards groups or Libraries that are looking to either assess or apply for an award. Click here to sign up.

Sanctuary and the Arts Awards Info Session
Join us on 6 September at 10am for a quick fire session to learn about the award process and for us to answer any questions. This is geared towards groups or arts institutions that are looking to either assess or apply for an award. Click here to sign up.

Welcome to City of Sanctuary: An Introduction
Join us on 12 September at 12pm for an introduction to our work. New to City of Sanctuary or just plain curious? In this session, we will provide an overview of the background and growth of the City of Sanctuary movement across the UK, share our values and aims and how we work with community organisations across all four UK nations to support new arrivals. Click here to sign up.

Schools of Sanctuary: 2023/24 Launch
Join us on 26 September at 4pm for the first Schools of Sanctuary event of the school year to learn more about the Schools of Sanctuary programme and award scheme. Click here to register.

Refugee Council's new National Refugee Strategy
Click here to read the new report published by the Refugee Council setting out a coherent plan to tackle channel crossings and create a fair and functioning asylum system that delivers order and compassion. 

New play fund
Play is critical for children’s well-being and skills development and we can all play a role in building more playful communities. Supported by the LEGO Foundation, this £80,000 fund is dedicated to helping you create more playful experiences for children in your community, school or neighbourhood across the UK. Click here to find out more.

• STAR (Student Action for Refugees) | Campaigns and Advocacy Manager | 9 August
• Beacon Bradford | Finance & Administration Officer | 21 August
• HOPE not Hate | Digital Lead | 29 August
• Abigail Housing | Chair of the Board of Directors
• Scottish Refugee Council | Regional Integration Coordinator | 6 August
• Refugee Education UK | Volunteer Mentors
• UNHCR | Goodwill Ambassador Team – Intern | 8 August
• TGP Cymru | Youth Welfare Officer – Refugee and Asylum Programme | 31 July