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

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Refugee Week is just around the corner! From 16-22 June, the world's largest arts and culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of people seeking sanctuary will take place with the theme "Community as a Superpower." This community-powered festival invites everyone - from individuals to schools, libraries, arts venues, faith groups, local councils, football clubs, and businesses - to take part. Wherever you live there are ways to get involved

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...

• Roundhouse Theatre, London and Feedback Theatre, London are both now Theatres of Sanctuary
  
  
• We restART, London; Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea; Arnolfini Arts Centre, Bristol and Create Studios, Swindon all now have a Sanctuary in Arts award.
  
  
• Dovetail Orchestra in Bristol is the UK’s first Orchestra of Sanctuary!
  
  
• Glasgow Women’s Library, Blackburn with Darwen Library and Information Services, Halton Library Services, Newham Libraries, Waltham Forest Libraries, Barnsley Libraries and Barnet Libraries are all now Libraries of Sanctuary
  
  
• University of Kent is now a University of Sanctuary
  
  
• Kitchener Primary School, Cardiff; Grangetown Primary, reappraisal, Cardiff; Adderley Primary School, Birmingham; Beaumont Primary School, Bolton; The Royal School - Primary, Wolverhampton; Ormiston New Academy, Wolverhampton; Learning4Life, Grimsby are all now newly awarded or reassessed Schools of Sanctuary
  
  
• Slough and Langley College and Waltham Forest College are both FE Colleges 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

Newcastle United was officially presented the Football Club of Sanctuary award at St. James’ Park on Sunday, recognising the club’s commitment and dedication to support people in the city who are seeking sanctuary. Find out more here

Government's Immigration White Paper
Read Free Movement's explainer of the paper here

Read City of Sanctuary UK Chief Officer, Sian Summers-Rees's statement on the Prime Ministers divisive rhetoric and what we can all do to resist and reject the rise of the far right.

We are proud to have joined more than 350 refugee and migrant groups in standing in solidarity with refugees and urge the government to challenge the rhetoric that perpetuates division to show compassion, not cruelty. Read the coverage here

New Time to Lift the Ban report

The Lift the Ban coalition has published a new report, Time to Lift the Ban, bringing together some of the key recent evidence in support of the campaign for people to have the right to work after six months of waiting for an initial decision on their asylum application, unrestricted by the Immigration Salary List.

Notable dates:
Pride Month - June
Fathers Day - 15 June
Refugee Week - 16-22 June
World Refugee Day - 20 June

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

Events, resources and opportunities

City of Sanctuary Strategy Consultation
We are in the process of putting together our next 5 year strategy, and would like to consult with the extensive network of groups across the UK who are affiliated with City of Sanctuary UK. We invite you to join us online either on June 3 or June 10 or June 26

Town and Parish Councils of Sanctuary Network Meeting
Town and Parish Councils interested in exploring or working towards the Council of Sanctuary award are welcome to join this online session on June 10. Local refugee groups working with their respective councils are also welcome to join the meeting.

Welcome to City of Sanctuary: An Intro
New to City of Sanctuary or just plain curious? Do you want to understand what we do as a movement and as an umbrella organisation? Are you part of a local refugee support group and considering joining our network ? Are you a school, theatre, university, garden or community organisation keen to learn more about how to make your work more welcoming to people seeking sanctuary?

In this online session on 2 July , 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. Sign up now

New Patient Advocacy Guide
LRMN have developed a new Advocacy Guide, created in partnership with the team at NHS South East London. The guide is designed to people navigate the healthcare system, answer common questions, and provide advice when charges occur.

Refused Asylum and Appeal Rights Exhausted: What’s Next?
Scottish Refuge Council have developed a page with information on what happens after your asylum claim is refused and you become ‘appeal rights exhausted’, what your rights and entitlements are and what practical steps you can take during this period.

College Fee Waiver for Asylum Seeking Young People studying Full Time FE Course in Scotland
Young asylum seekers, or a child of an asylum seeker are eligible for a fee waiver for full-time or part-time Further Education course fees.
This was rolled out for 2024-2025, and we have confirmation this is continued for 2025-2026. Find out more.

Towards a UNCRC-Compliant Asylum System in the UK
This online event on June 11 will bring together different perspectives to explore how the UK asylum system can better uphold the rights of children, in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Register here

Holding on to HOPE: Lessons from Community Britain
New report from HOPE not Hate and the Cooperative Party explores how people across Britain feel about their country and their communities. At the national picture, the mood is bleak, but a the local level, it’s a different story. People still believe in their communities – and in each other. Read it here

• Durham City of Sanctuary | Coordinator & Comms Administrator | 4 June
• Bradford City of Sanctuary | Volunteer Treasurer | ongoing
• Sheffield City of Sanctuary | Comms & Fundraising Officer | 15 June
• Our Second Home | Administrator | 9 June
• Safe Passage | Immigration Lawyer | 15 June
• Bath Welcomes Refugees | Head of Charity | 15 June
• Trafford Council | Refugee and Asylum Welcome Programme Facilitator | 5 June
• Refugee Council | Senior Media & Marketing Officer | 11 June
• King's Arms Project | Refugee and Migrant Services Caseworker | 15 June
• HIAS+JCORE | Community Engagement Specialist | 5 June