There have been great strides in sanctuary awards work – a City of Sanctuary strategic tool to sustain welcome in the mainstream. Three schools (English Martyrs in Preston & both the Cathedral Schools in Lancaster), have gained the School of Sanctuary award. Staff at Bolton’s Octagon Theatre have had awareness sessions which generated great enthusiasm to become a Theatre of Sanctuary. There are also advanced discussions with Manchester’s Museum as well as with its Royal Exchange Theatre which are both already learning, embedding & sharing in order to gain sanctuary recognition.

The “Theatre in the Quarter” in Chester have gained Arts Council funding to tour the drama “Lost Boy”, which was conceived in consultation with the Young Persons Group at Manchester CoS.

Health Watch Blackburn with Darwen has regular input from CoS in developing & delivering a research project to assess the accessibility to mental health support by local sanctuary seekers suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.