CoS UK is delighted to share with the network a new a Celebrating Sanctuary 2021 Toolkit.
We are inviting groups to hold a ‘Celebrating Sanctuary’ online event during the week beginning 19th April to 25th April to:-
- Make a public declaration of support for sanctuary and promote the success story of City of Sanctuary
- Celebrate and promote the welcome offered to people seeking sanctuary across communities in all parts of the UK
- Celebrate the positive contribution that people seeking sanctuary have made to our communities
- Develop positive relationships with decision makers at local, national and UK level and raise their awareness of the welcome that is taking place in the communities they serve
Sian Summers-Rees meets with a MP at Sanctuary in Parliament 2018
We are encouraging groups to promote the positive stories of welcome from across their communities with their elected leadership. We encourage groups to invite key influencers who have been involved in that welcome e.g. teachers, health professionals, faith leaders to demonstrate the wider community support for welcome, as well those with lived experience. We want decision makers to be aware of the broad based alliances and support that there is for people seeking sanctuary as they begin contemplating new immigration legislation which will re-shape asylum in the UK. We believe that our positive narratives are essential to influencing change for a fair, effective, just and humane asylum process. Decision makers need to know that this is what their constituents want and agreement on welcome is a vital first step to relationship building and gaining eventual support for specific asks around various campaigns (#LiftTheban #CloseTheBarracks etc.) Whether specific issues are raised or not will depend on the relationships and on the group context.
Save the Date! CoS UK is organising a network-wide event on Monday 19 April, 10-11.30, Register here which will include decision-makers, people seeking sanctuary and opportunities to share your ideas on how to celebrate sanctuary at the local level.
if you are not in a group – you can still get together with your friends to influence your MP by arranging a meeting to tell them how much you welcome people seeking sanctuary.
Loading...
Reload document 
Open in new tab