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
University of Sanctuary in the spotlight at an international conference
Our University of Sanctuary initiative was one of the innovative approaches supporting people seeking sanctuary highlighted at an international conference…
A Statement from the Leader of Hastings Council on Rossana’s Award – March 2019
Peter Chowney, Leader of Hastings Borough Council
‘Impact on migrant women of NHS charging for maternity care’ – a talk by Rayah Feldman from Maternity Action at UEA
Maternity Action have launched an important report called ‘What Price Safe Motherhood’. On March 11th, Rayah Feldman from Maternity Action…
Women on the Move Award – March 2019
Alex Kempton and Felicity Laurence, Hastings Community of Sanctuary
Founder and Director of the Hastings & Rother Refugee Buddy Project Wins National Woman of the Year Award
Rossana speaking to potential volunteers at the Open Day for the Bexhill Buddy Project We are delighted to announce that Rossana…
Bookings now open for the 2019 City of Sanctuary Conference and AGM
Bookings are now open for the 2019 City of Sanctuary Conference and AGM.
Actors calls Govt to allow asylum seekers to work
City of Sanctuary applaud a group of journalists, writers, actors, lawyers and faith leaders who produced a joint letter urging…
Early Action: A new approach for asylum support
The Asylum Early Action partnership are exploring new ways of providing support for people in the asylum system, to help…
City of Sanctuary welcomes High Court ruling on Right to Rent
City of Sanctuary welcomes the High Court ruling which declared the Government’s Right to Rent scheme unlawful because it causes…
A day in the life of a refused asylum seeker from Zimbabwe
Supporters of Marian Machekanyanga gathered outside Vulcan House in Sheffield, the Home Office building where refused asylum seekers are required…
Community of Sanctuary Update – Feb 2019
Dr Felicity Laurence, Chair of Hastings Community of Sanctuary
Civil society report raises concerns about the discriminatory practices against asylum seeking women in the UK
Women seeking sanctuary in the UK face challenges of discrimination and violence, a new report by a group of civil…
Forum calls to end indefinite immigration detention
This week, Detention Forum members have launched a social media campaign to build and communicate support across the UK for an end to indefinite immigration detention for everyone. To continue building momentum behind calls for a 28 day time limit amendment to the Immigration and Social Security Coordination Bill, we’re asking people to share photos with a local sign or landmark calling for an end to indefinite detention. You can find out more, including sample tweets and a sign to download and print,…
New Report ’Seeking Asylum. Women’s Experiences of Home Office Decision Making, Destitution and Mental Health Issues’.
A group of West Midlands grassroots projects, led mainly by people with lived experience, working with Refugee Rights Europe, launched…
Six new Schools of Sanctuary in Salford
Six Salford primary schools have become Schools of Sanctuary for the first time by showing a genuine commitment to welcoming…
The Compass Project Fund at Birkbeck – opening doors to access
Birkbeck, University of London is committed to supporting forced migrants (typically mature learners) who face difficulty in accessing more traditional…
Far From the Home I Love – £9000 already raised after five moving piano concerts!
Internationally acclaimed pianist Margaret Fingerhut is one month into her Far From the Home I Love piano series fundraiser tour. Five…
New research finds young refugees are wrongly thought to lack ambition
Refugee students tend to set their sights high, but new research on young refugees’ education in Brighton and Hove has found that their low level of English is often interpreted as a lack of ambition.