Dear friends,

This year's General Election is a real opportunity to break the cycle of scapegoating people seeking sanctuary. Right now politicians pander to divisive ideologies as they think it will win them votes, we need to create a culture where that is unacceptable. That means we, the quiet majority, need to speak up.

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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 Newlands Primary School, Southampton; St Lawrence CE Primary School, Shropshire; Chester Bluecoat CE Primary School, Chester; St Bernard's RC Primary and Nursery School, Ellesmere Port; Rakegate Primary School, Wolverhampton; Charlton CofE Primary School, Deal; St Gerard's Catholic Primary School, Birmingham and Newport CE Junior School who are all now awarded or reaccredited Schools of Sanctuary.

Welcome to Solent University, our newest University of Sanctuary, to Norwich City College, now an FE College of Sanctuary; and to Portsmouth Libraries who are now a Library Service of Sanctuary.

Well done to Victoria Hall Methodist Church in Sheffield and to Wakefield Quaker Meeting House who have both received the Faiths of Sanctuary Award.

Last but definitely not least, we are delighted to announce Waltham Forest Council as the latest awarded Local Authority of Sanctuary - there are now four Local Authority of Sanctuary awards in London alone.

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.

Fair Begins Here Valentine’s Day action
Together With Refugees is organising a Valentine’s Day action on 14 February for its Fair Begins Here campaign - you can download a campaign toolkit with suggested activities here. You can find resources for schools and children here.

Rwanda
After receiving strong criticism from the House of Lords, the Rwanda bill will now go to Committee Stage, where it is expected that peers will significantly amend it. In the meantime, this is how you can take action:

Liberty has shared unbranded social media assets and draft posts on the Bill and a write to MP action. Freedom from Torture has shared a petition calling on the Government to scrap all plans to offshore people seeking safety.

Sign up to Asylum Matter's Fight the Anti-Refugee Laws Pledge and use their social media resources.

Local media challenge: amplify your compassion
Right now the voices of people who want a compassionate approach to refugees are not being heard. This challenge is about using local media to change that. Throughout the month of March, we will be supporting and encouraging City of Sanctuary groups, awarded organitsations and individuals to get place messages of solidarity and compassion in local letters pages, op-eds, articles, radio phone-ins, blogs and more.

Speak up for Sanctuary workshop
Join us on Feb 5 at 6pm for a workshop 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. Sign up here.

Understanding Climate and Migrant Justice workshop
In this workshop we will explore the urgent need for climate action that is centred in justice, and the way in which this is connected to migration and border policies. Join on 8 Feb, 6:30-8pm. Register now.

Staff and volunteer health and wellbeing in the refugee sector workshop
Join the Yorkshire and HE Health Stream for online event focused on boosting the health and wellbeing of staff and volunteers in the refugee sector. Sign up here.

Rwanda plan and Illegal Migration Act: new report
Refugee Council have released a report finding that these bills will increase dangerous journeys and drive refugees underground. Read it here.

Hosts needed in Oxford
Asylum Welcome are looking for compasisonate local hosts in Oxford to help keep as many people seeking sanctuary off the streets as possible. Find out more and apply here.

Surviving in Poverty: new report
Asylum Matters has released a new report which reveals the devastating impact of living on asylum support and the effect of the rising cost of living. Read it here.

Co-Created Community Engagement toolkit
The Migration Museum have developed a useful toolkit offering a selection of ‘top tips’ and learning from the People’s Panel and Network, as well as templates to inspire and support others in their community engagement work. See it here.

37% of LGBTIQ+ people seeking asylum feel unsafe in their accommodation
African Rainbow Family have released a new report stating a need for inclusive Home Office accommodation. Read it here.

Fake or real news? Free online workshop
Birkbeck are running a free virtual workshop on how to spot fake news, fact v opinion and how to evaluate online arguments. Join on Feb 8 - sign up here.

Survey: international students and the Home Office
Migrant Right's Network are looking at how students have encountered different aspects of migration monitoring, for example in university registration and housing, as well as international students' specific experiences with services like agents and university support. Fill in the survey here.

University of Edinburgh: Sanctuary Scholarships
The University of Edinburgh is offering up to 30 scholarships for a full-time postgraduate programme at the University of Edinburgh starting in September 2024. Find out more here.

• Bradford City of Sanctuary | Administration and Communications Officer | 4 March
  
• Asylum Matters | Executive Director | 5 Feb
• ATLEU | Lead Immigration Lawyer | 12 Feb
• Horsforth Churches Together | Refugee Support Worker | 2 Feb
• Migrant Democracy Project | Organiser | 12 Feb
• FLEX | Outreach Workers - North East Scotland | 4 Feb
• Rainbow Migration | Trustees | 23 Feb
• Migrant Voice | Communications Worker | 9 Feb
• African Rainbow Family | Office Administrator | ongoing
• KRAN | Senior Manager - Advocacy and Support | 19 Feb
• Asylum Justice | Trustees | 29 Feb
• UNHCR | Digital Communications Trainee | 7 Feb