City of Sanctuary UK holds the vision that our nations will be welcoming places of safety for all and proud to offer sanctuary to people fleeing violence and persecution. In order to realise this vision, City of Sanctuary UK supports a network of groups, which includes villages, towns, cities and regions across the UK, and others engaged in Streams of Sanctuary, Sanctuary Awards and activities intended to welcome people seeking sanctuary.
For more information see our Charter.
Whilst we are a movement in our own right we also contribute towards wider movement building through partnership work and supporting advocacy and campaigning initiatives.
We work closely with our partner organisation Places of Sanctuary Ireland.
Wherever refugees go, we want them to feel safe and find people who will welcome them.
Latest Network News
Memories from My Land – Piano piece released in support of City of Sanctuary
Internationally renowned classical pianist Margaret Fingerhut is launching the track ‘Memories from My Land’ to raise funds for City of…
North East Regional Gathering comes to Newcastle
On Saturday 8th June 2019, forty people across the North East came together to learn from one another through sharing…
Scottish Universities of Sanctuary Get-Together in Edinburgh
23 practitioners with interest in enabling refugees’ access to Higher Education in Scotland met in Edinburgh last Monday, the 3rd…
City of Sanctuary-inspired choir to perform during Refugee Week 2019
Following a successful crowdfunding campaign, a Durham based refugee-led music project is touring the UK this year. Their first stop…
Introduction to asylum support webinar – June 2019
You may be interested in a Webinar which covers an induction to asylum support ( Home Office support) being run by the Asylum Support Appeals Project.
There’s No Place Like Home: London, 5 July
‘There’s No Place Like Home’ by the Justice, Migration and the Arts Network. An open evening exploring the relationship between migration, detention and the arts. Headlined by award-winning poet, Lemn Sissay, and detainee and novelist, Behrouz Boochani.
Freedom Across Borders: London, 6 July
On Saturday 6 July, Syria Solidarity UK, along with the Syrian Legal Development Programme, Dawalty, Migrants Organise and others, are hosting ‘Freedom Across Borders’. This conference aims to connect refugee campaigning and Syria human rights campaigning to wider human rights and legal accountability work in the UK. The main part of the day will be divided into three strands: Refugees Welcome, Survivor Strategies, and Accountability.
Help Sanctuary scholars challenge study bans
Two Sanctuary Scholars have recently been hit with study bans resulting in their suspension from Bristol University. If they study…
Celebrating Lincoln as a City of Sanctuary!
On Monday 3 June, we at Lincoln City of Sanctuary held an event to celebrate the excellent work being undertaken…
2019 Annual Conference and AGM Report
Report on 2019 City of Sanctuary Annual Conference and AGM
Pizza Shop Heroes: Refugee Actors Take Centre Stage
City leaders urge Home Secretary to allow asylum seekers to work
Representatives of the UK’s 10 biggest cities outside London have today written to the Home Secretary asking him to let…
Cities that stand #WithRefugees
Cities #WithRefugees was launched in advance of World Refugee Day (June 20) in 2018. It has mobilised more than 130 cities…
Access to Healthcare Resources from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission
Access to Healthcare Resources from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission
Patients not Passports – New Toolkit
The ‘Patients not Passports’ Toolkit has recently been launched by Docs Not Cops, Migrants Organise, and Medact. The Toolkit offers resources…
NACCOM Happy to Host Convention for Hosts, Guests & Coordinators
On 13th July, NACCOM is running ‘Happy To Host’, a one day convention for hosts, guests and coordinators as well…
Latest Asylum Statistics: January to March 2019
Asylum Statistics: January to March 2019
Safe Surgeries and Surgeries of Sanctuary – improving welcome in GP practices
Safe Surgeries and Surgeries of Sanctuary – improving welcome in GP practices