A monthly update of news, events, opportunities, campaigns and jobs from the City of Sanctuary networks.

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Sanctuary Awards

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

Oxford City Council, the newest Local Authority of Sanctuary Award. There are now 25 awarded councils all over the UK.

A huge congratuations to the following schools who are now newly awarded or reaccredited Schools of Sanctuary: English Martyrs' RC Primary School Birmingham; Somerville Primary School, Birmingham (reaccreditation); St Albert's Catholic Primary School, Knowsley; Heartsease Primary Academy, Norfolk; Clover Hill VA Infant and Nursery School, Norfolk; St Michael's VA Junior School, Norfolk; St Martin's Primary Academy, Chester (reaccreditation);  Overleigh St Mary’s, Chester; Wodensfield Primary School, Wolverhampton; Goldthorn Park Primary, Wolverhampton (reaccredited); St Stephen's CE Primary, Bradford; Hoyle Court Primary, Bradford; Bellfield Junior School, Birmingham; St. John's Primary School, Penistone; Ringway Primary School, Manchester; Meersbrook Bank Primary School, Sheffield; St John and St Peter's CE Academy, Birmingham; Knighton Church in Wales Primary School, Powys; St Michaels CE Primary Academy, Wolverhampton

A massive well done to Lambeth Libraries and Norfolk Libraries, both are now Library Services of Sanctuary. These awards apply to all of their libraries, 57 in total.

A warm welcome to The National Centre for Writing and Norfolk County Council Looked After Children and Young People Health Team who have both achieved Place of Sanctuary Awards.

And finally, congratulations to Belgrade theatre and Wakefield library who have both been reaccredited, reaffirming their commitment to welcome for another three years.

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.

Valentine's Day
This Valentine’s Day, let’s show politicians in Westminster who we really are. An open, fair and welcoming country, who believe in solidarity and compassion for those seeking safety. Every year Together With Refugees members all over the country come together to show the love on Valentine’s Day. From meeting with your MP, to sharing content on social media, it can all make a difference. Sign up and we’ll share resources and ideas to help you take action.

Campaign Organising Network
Together With Refugees are launching a new Campaign Organising Network designed to strengthen our collective impact and help demonstrate that communities across the UK stand for compassionate refugee policies. Find out more and get involved by joining us on Feb 13 at 11am. Sign up here.

Notable dates:
Feb - LGBT+ History Month
3-9 Feb Race Equality Week
10-16 Student Volunteering Week
14 Feb - Valentine's Day
17 Feb - Random Acts of Kindness Day
20 Feb - World Day of Social Justice
21 Feb - International Mother Language Day
24 Feb - 3 Year anniversary of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
28 Feb - Start of Ramadan

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

Events, resources and opportunities

London Co-Production Conference
Join us on 25 Feb in London for a day of workshops and talks about how to implement co-production within your organisation and work. Co-production means people with lived experience of seeking sanctuary take an equal participatory role within an organisation, group or service. It can be an extremely effective way for people with lived experience to be able to influence change. Register here.

Theatres of Sanctuary: Platforma Arts Festival Planning
If you are a Theatre of Sanctuary or are working towards the award, join us on 4 Feb at 11am for a planning meeting about being involved with this years Platforma festival. Register here.

Enabling Access to Education for Children Seeking Safety
On 5 Feb, in this one-off online webinar in partnership with Refugee Education UK, we will focus on place-based approaches to enabling access to education for children seeking safety, particularly those who arrive aged 14+ or in the middle of the school year. Register here.

London Regional Meeting
Join us on 5 Feb for a meeting of London-based City of Sanctuary groups and awarded organisations. Network, share ideas and plan for 2025. Register here.

eVisas 
Validity of expiring Biometric Residence Permits will now be extended until at least 31 March 2025. Find out more here. You can find a self-help guide designed to assist people in self-advocating with banks as they transition to eVisa – there is a detailed step-by-step guide on the process a person should follow to share their immigration status and identity with banks.

New NACCOM report: "Treat us Like Humans"
This new report from NACCOM highlights what it’s like to navigate asylum accommodation and support services in the UK, and why it’s more important than ever to listen to the voices of those directly impacted by the asylum system when pushing for reform. Read it here.

Call for Evidence: Asylum Accomodation
The government's Home Affairs Committee are calling for written submissions are invited on the following issues: the delivery of asylum accommodation and impact of current arrangements for asylum accommodation on local areas. Find out more and submit here. Deadline 3 Feb

Consultation on Civil Legal Aid
This Ministry of Justice consultation considers increases to civil legal aid fees for Housing and Debt work, and Immigration and Asylum work. Deadline 21 March. Submit your views here.

Scottish Refugee Festival 2025
This year, the festival runs from 13 to 22 June and there are so many ways to get involved in the fun including running your own event. Find out more and apply for an event grant here.

Counter Trafficking Training
Join the Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship Service Team for a series of awareness-raising sessions aimed at increasing professionals knowledge and understanding of issues relating to trafficking, exploitation, and Modern Slavery. All sessions are delivered online via Microsoft Teams. Sign up here.

Free safeguarding consultations
SAFEcic is restarting its free Safeguarding Consultation service which proved very popular last year. Consultations are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Don't miss out on this free opportunity. Contact them on: [email protected]

Proposals for UNESCO RIELA Spring School in Glasgow
This year the Spring School will focus on peacebuilding, specifically using arts, languages and education. For 2025, they invite proposals which explore how to build peace in the minds of people, how to live together peacefully, restoratively and interculturally, how to respond to and counteract current events worldwide that seek to divide societies, and how to ensure that peace prevails, founded on justice. Find out more here.

• Sheffield City of Sanctuary | Drop-in Manager | 27 Feb
• Bristol City of Sanctuary | Schools of Sanctuary Coordinator | 21 Feb
• Institute For Public Policy Research | Digital and Media Officer | 6 Feb
• HIAS & JCORE | Administrator, Advocacy Coordinator & Community Engagement Specialist | 3 Feb
• LRMN | Campaigns & Communications Officer | 7 Feb
• Women for Refugee Women | Policy and Research Manager | 24 Feb