City of Sanctuary 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 supports a network of groups, which includes villages, towns, cities and regions across the UK and Ireland, 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.
In Ireland City of Sanctuary operates under the name Places of Sanctuary Ireland.
Wherever refugees go, we want them to feel safe and find people who will welcome them.
Latest Network News
New Report from Refugee Action on Access to Justice in the Asylum System
Refugee Action have produced a new campaign briefing on the impact of cuts to legal aid on justice in the…
Ongoing Delays and Poor Decision-Making in Asylum Support Process
One year on from Refugee Action’s report ‘Slipping through the Cracks,’ which documented delays and poor decision-making in the Home Office’s asylum…
Research on Wrongful GP Refusals & Safe Surgeries Network
New research published by Doctors of the World UK has found that 1 in 5 attempts to register vulnerable patients are…
Open Letter to Home Secretary on Standards of Proof in Asylum Decision-Making
The Windrush scandal revealed the impossible burden placed on individuals to prove their entitlement to be in the UK. Freedom…
Briefing on the Home Office’s Voluntary Returns Programme
Asylum Matters and Right to Remain have produced a briefing looking at the Home Office’s Voluntary Returns Programme for consideration by organisations and faith groups who are asked to host advice surgeries on behalf of the Home Office.
University of Reading defended its Sanctuary Scholarships
University of Reading has joined other universities by launching its Sanctuary Scholarship for refugees. However, the exciting news and noble…
About Project Get Together held 6-8th July 2018
‘How do you capture the joy that these young people are expressing and feeling in words on a feedback form?’…
City of Sanctuary London and South-East regional gathering
Date : 3 November 2018
11 new Schools of Sanctuary in Belfast!
What is Places of Sanctuary Ireland?
Stafford Welcomes Refugees at ‘The Great Get Together’
Stafford Welcomes Refugees joined other local groups at ‘The Great Get Together’ in Memory of Jo Cox. It was a…
City of Sanctuary North West Regional gathering
The second Regional Meeting of City of Sanctuary groups in the North West will take place on Wednesday, October 17th from…
North East Regional Gathering – October 27th 2018
The City of Sanctuary North East Regional Gathering will be held in Durham on the 27th October 2018, 10am – 3pm, at the…
Free access to BlueBottleBiz library of resources for City of Sanctuary network
City of Sanctuary have partnered with BlueBottleBiz, a collaborative learning platform, who have offered to provide the CoS network with access…
Crich Junior School is Derbyshire’s first School of Sanctuary
Crich Junior School becomes Derbyshire’s first School of Sanctuary!
We are recruiting a facilitator for our Sanctuary Suppers project!
Leeds City of Sanctuary are recruiting a Facilitator for our Sanctuary Suppers project.
The international language of football
Mark from The Gap Newport wrote early in May-‘Some of our teenagers are going with the Police to a 7…
Refugee Week 2018 – well, that was fun!
Thank you to everyone who supported us in making Swindon’s celebrations so sparkling! From poetry to art to dance to music, not to mention a little drama too (intentional, of course!), Swindon truly celebrated the contributions that we all of us make to this town. We can think of no better way of celebrating the diversity of Swindon than through showcasing local – and international – talents through the arts. As anyone who came to our events will have experienced,…
Tribute to Peter Rankin, Founder of Preston City of Sanctuary
On Monday, 25th June we said a final goodbye to Peter Rankin, our chair and founder. The very emotional service took place at the Preston Minster, where only 16 months ago we celebrated our launch with Peter’s official recognition of Preston as a City of Sanctuary.