Sheffield is a City of Sanctuary

 

In 2007, with the support of Sheffield City Council, Sheffield became the UK’s first ‘City of Sanctuary’ for asylum-seekers and refugees - a city that takes pride in the welcome it offers to people in need of safety.

 

A City of Sanctuary is a place that welcomes and includes asylum-seekers and refugees, and enables them to contribute fully to the life of the city. It is not about encouraging more asylum-seekers to come to Sheffield - most asylum-seekers don't have any choice about where they live. But in a City of Sanctuary these new arrivals are treated with understanding and respect, in a way that local people can be proud of.

 

Sheffield’s City of Sanctuary movement is supported by over 70 local organisations, including Community Forums, student groups, charities and Sheffield’s main faith communities. Together we are working to bring together asylum-seekers and local people and to celebrate the contribution of asylum-seekers and refugees to the life of our city.

 

Most asylum-seekers come to Sheffield without any knowledge of the city or any contacts with people who live here. Local organisations which support the City of Sanctuary movement make a commitment to welcoming these new arrivals and including them their local activities. They do this in many different ways, including:

 

Befriending and listening

 

Invitations to community social events

 

Advertising services and activities to refugee communities

 

Offering volunteer placements

 

Providing meeting space for refugee community groups

 

Promoting refugee events in the local community

 

Offering short or long term accommodation

 

Appointing refugees to committees and positions of responsibility

 

In these ways asylum-seekers and refugees are enabled to make social contacts with local people, contribute their skills and experience to local organisations, and build constructive lives in their new home.

 

We want to encourage more local organisations to make a public commitment to welcoming and including asylum-seekers and refugees in their activities.

 

To find out more, or to see how your local group or organisation can get involved visit our website at:  www.cityofsanctuary.com