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...

St Clare's RC Primary, Birmingham (reaccreditation); St Teresa’s Catholic Primary Academy, Wolverhampton; St Anne's Catholic Primary School, Knowsley are all Schools of Sanctuary.

Waltham Forest College is the newest College of Sanctuary.

University of Liverpool, University of Strathclyde and University of Chester are all now Universities of Sanctuary!

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.

Criminalising Identity: Stop the Stigma Against Migrant Communities
Plans to publish the nationalities of foreign offenders risk fuelling anti-migrant narratives and further stigmatising communities already facing systemic discrimination. This move reinforces the hostile environment by framing people through the lens of criminality, rather than their humanity. Fight for Asylum Rights is urging the public to challenge these divisive tactics and push for policies that uphold dignity, fairness, and truth in how migrants and asylum seekers are represented.

Borders Bill
Asylum Matters are working with Labour MP Nadia Whittome to table an amendment to the Borders Bill which would place a duty on the Home Secretary to publish official data on deaths quarterly, in line with the publication of immigration statistics. Write to your MP and ask them to add their signature to report stage amendment NC1. Find your MP here. Write your own message and share the parliamentary briefing on the amendment.

Stop the Deportation of Fatou
Fatou has spent 18 years living in the UK. She was taken into immigration detention a few weeks ago, after her routine visit to the reporting centre in Liverpool. Join the 22,000 others calling for her immediate release.

Notable dates:
National Childrens Day - May 14th
International Day of Families - May 15th
Mental Health Awareness Week - May 15th - 21st
International Day of Living Together in Peace - May 16th

If any City of Sanctuary groups have any plans for these dates, please let our Communications Manager know - comms@cityofsanctuary.org

Events, resources and opportunities

Sanctuary Award Info Session
Join us on 7 May for a quick fire session to learn about the award process and for us to answer any questions. This is geared towards groups, arts institutions and libraries that are looking to either assess or apply for an award. Register here

Lunchtime Meet-up
Join us 13 May for an informal networking session, giving us all the opportunity to meet up with members of the City of Sanctuary networks (groups and streams), to socialise and talk about topics such as well-being, projects or general chat. Register here

Local Authority Thematic Network: Resilient Local Sanctuary Partnerships
Join us on 20 May for a session focusing on how councils can help build resilient local sanctuary and migration partnerships. We’ll explore key topics including: Developing terms of reference for local partnership forums; Involving people with lived experience in meaningful ways; Supporting the capacity and long-term sustainability of local civil society organisations. Register here

Windrush Compensation Advocacy Support Fund
This is an injection of £1.5 million grant funding over 3 years, for organisations to help provide essential advocacy support for Windrush Compensation Scheme (WCS) claimants. Find out more and apply

Free Refugee Week 2025 Film Programme
This year’s programme – taking place 16–22 June 2025 – features 5 powerful shorts and 2 acclaimed feature films. Watch at home or organise a community screening – completely free and available globally. Find out more here

Permission to work for people seeking asylum
Scottish Refugee Council have published a new resource around permission to work in the UK while your asylum claim is being considered. Find out when you are allowed to work, how to evidence it to an employer and what types of work you can do.

Report launch: The status of the UK refugee and migration sector in 2025
At the end of 2024, Migration Exchange commissioned targeted research to provide updated information and analysis on the profile and resources of the UK refugee and migration sector, including both NGOs and grant makers. Join them for the online launch on 13 May, where the authors will share key findings and analysis from their review of the sector, followed by a Q&A.

The mental health of asylum seekers and refugees in the UK
This new report from the Mental Health Foundation presents evidence on the circumstances which asylum seekers and refugees in the UK can face, and how these experiences can harm their mental health and even lead to suicidal feelings and actions. 

• Bradford City of Sanctuary | Volunteer Treasurer | ongoing
• Asylum Reform Initiative & Together With Refugees | Deputy Director | 20 May
• Bristol City Council | Head of Bristol Sanctuary Services | 5 May
• Displaced People in Action | Board Member | ongoing
• Room to Heal | Co-Director (Finance & Fundraising) | 5 May
• Social Workers Without Borders | Chair of Trustees & Treasurer | 14 July
• Praxis | Support Worker & Advice Coordinator and IAA supervisor L2 | 6 May
• Doctors of the World | Policy & Advocacy Officer, Challenge Events & Community Officer and Head of Fundraising and Communications | 25 May