City of Sanctuary are working with Asylum Matters and the Parliamentary Manager for the Refugee Council and the AAPG for Refugees to hold the 4th Sanctuary in Parliament event with the theme;
Dignity not Destitution: Ending poverty and homelessness in the asylum system.
All CoS groups are welcome and we are particularly keen to encourage attendance from those groups and constituencies that have a newly elected MP and those who have not attended the Sanctuary in Parliament event in previous years. There are also a limited number of places for partners who are invited to bring any relevant material or reports to be displayed and / or distributed. Please contact us if you wish to attend. [email protected]
Date: Tuesday 28th November
Time: 12 – 4 (Start at 12.30)
Venue: Committee Room 14, Westminster.
There is an inevitable limit on spaces in the committee rooms, places will be prioritised for CoS groups and in particular those who have secured a meeting with their MP on the day. Please provide this information when booking.
Our theme this year will narrow our focus to the issue of destitution – poverty and homelessness created by the asylum process. Our asks will include permission to work, an increase in asylum support rates and an extension of the move on period.
SiP Programme 28th November 2017
Guidelines for Sanctuary in Parliament 2017
We suggest that the following briefings are sent to MPs and they are available for anyone who wants to engage with their MP to change the policies resulting in hardship and destitution amongst asylum seekers and refugees.
Sanctuary in Parliament Destitution Policy Briefing
SiP Destitution – Quick Policy Guide
We are relying on the network and partners to use the briefings to invite their local MPs, even if they cannot attend themselves and also to let us know how their MP replies. (Write to us at [email protected])
Please click Template Letter to MPs for SiP for an adaptable guide for supporters and partners to invite their MPs to the event. Please try to engage others in your networks – even those who are not able to join us on the day. Supporters can ask their MPs to consider the briefings and attend to meet their CoS reps or if no-one from the constituency available then MPs can be asked to hear refugee testimony to inform follow up discussions back in the constituency.
Bookings and travel expenses
To book a place please email [email protected]
Once places are booked, you can apply for travel subsidy here. You can find the travel subsidy policy guidelines and terms of reference at this link – please read this carefully before applying. At this stage, we don’t know how much we will have available for the travel subsidy budget.