City of Sanctuary UK have coordinated a letter with signatures from universities, schools, arts organisations, faith orgs and community groups, calling on Liz Truss to scrap cruel asylum policies and instead lead with compassion.
The letter is signed by 54 organisations including University of Sussex, Opera North, University of Warwick, Leeds Playhouse, Birkbeck University, University of Leicester and University of St Andrews.
Each of the signatories has a Sanctuary Award, a formal recognition of good practice in creating a culture of compassion, welcome and empowerment for refugees and asylum seekers.
Dear Liz Truss,
We the undersigned organisations and institutions have all been recognised for our commitment to welcoming refugees and people seeking asylum. We work hard for our communities to be inclusive and cohesive.
As the new Prime Minister, we call on you to draw a line under the cruel and hostile policies that see people punished simply for seeking sanctuary – and instead pursue policies which represent who we are as a country.
We believe in a UK that welcomes and protects people fleeing torture, war and persecution – irrespective of where they are from or how they reached our shores; a UK that is proud of its diversity and recognises and celebrates how we are enriched by new arrivals.
Real leadership is about having the strength to be compassionate, to be outward looking and forward thinking.
Signed,
| University of Glasgow | Rachel Sandison |
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, External Engagement
|
| University of Warwick | Paul Blagburn |
Head of Widening Participation
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| University of Leicester | Pascale Roussel |
Director of Sanctuary
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| University of Sussex | Dr Linda Morrice |
Reader in Education and Migration
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| Sheffield Hallam University | Krassimira Teneva |
Sheffield Hallam University of Sanctuary Lead
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| Birkbeck, University of London | Caroline McDonald |
Director, Access and Engagement
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| University of Bradford | Emma Young |
Associate Director Student Success and Wellbeing
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| University of St Andrews | R. B. MacKay |
Vice Principal International
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| Newcastle University | Julie Sanders |
Deputy Vice Chancellor and Provost
|
| Opera North | Richard Mantle | General Director |
| Leeds Playhouse | Alexander Ferris |
Associate Director
|
| People’s History Museum | Katy Ashton | Director |
| Norwich Arts Centre | Pasco-Q Kevlin | Director |
| Brighton & Hove Libraries | Norah Carr |
Library Service Manager
|
| Stand & Be Counted Theatre Company | Rosie MacPherson | Artistic Director |
| The Roman Catholic Deanery of St Andrew, Cambridge. | Reverend David Finegan |
Acting Dean of St Andrew’s Deanery
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| Cambridge Unitarian Church | Revd Andrew James Brown |
Minister of the Cambridge Unitarian Church
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| Downing Place United Reformed Church, Cambridge | Dr William Owen Saxton | Elders’ Clerk |
| Trinity Vineyard Church, Woolwich | Rebecca Bickley | Pastor |
| Jesus Lane Cambridge Quaker Meeting | Celia Waterhouse | Clerk |
| Cambridge City of Sanctuary Faiths’ Network | Rosemary Victoria Watson |
Co-coordinator, Cambridge City of Sanctuary Faith Groups Network
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| Surrey Square Primary School, Southwark | Fiona Carrick-Davies |
Family & Community Co-ordinator
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| Kensington Community Primary School | Maisie Hesketh |
School of Sanctuary and Anti-Bullying Lead
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| Sacred Heart Catholic School | D Cooper | Head of School |
| St Mary’s Lewisham Church of England Primary School | Christine Bernard | Headteacher |
| Horton Community Farm | Ms Laura Ann B | Director |
| Nam Yang Brighton Community Association | Sam Byford-Winter | Director |
| Bicycle Links CIC, Norwich | Imogen Munn | |
| Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network | Rosario Guimba-Stewart | CEO |
| Creating Ground CIC, Greenwich, London | Laura Marziale | Director |
| Northampton Town of Sanctuary | Danielle Stone | Chair |
| Harrogate District of Sanctuary | Margaret Smith | Trustee |
| East Hoathly Village of Sanctuary | Tom Serpell | Chair |
| Hastings Community of Sanctuary | Jane Grimshaw | Co-Chair |
| Durham City of Sanctuary | Tanya Devereux | Trustee |
| Herefordshire City of Sanctuary | Jan Doran | Secretary |
| Bristol City of Sanctuary | Sarah Cooper | Manager |
| North Lincolnshire Sanctuary Group | Vicky Crowther | Chair |
| Durham City of Sanctuary | Dr Susan Frenk | Co-Chair |
| Wandsworth Welcomes Refugees | Florence Andrews |
Chair of Trustees
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| Ripon City of Sanctuary | Nicola David | Chair |
| Causeway Borough of Sanctuary | Yvonne Boyle | Chair |
| Stafford Welcomes Refugees | Norman Pearce | Chair |
| Leicester City of Sanctuary | Pete Hobson |
Chair of Trustees
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| Manchester City of Sanctuary | Liz Hibberd |
Strategic and Partnership Lead
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| Bradford City of Sanctuary | Kate Hart |
Schools and Colleges of Sanctuary Project Lead
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| Wolverhampton City of Sanctuary | Amanda Bevan | Coordinator |
| Belfast City of Sanctuary | Tiwalade Olatunbosun | Director |
| Swansea CIty of Sanctuary | Kathryn Williams | Secretary |
| Bradford City of Sanctuary | Will Sutcliffe | Chair |
| Herefordshire City of Sanctuary | Jan Doran | Secretary |
| Denbighshire County of Sanctuary | Leyla Beattie | Trustee |
| Richmond Town of Sanctuary, North Yorkshire | Milja Spruit | Coordinator |
| Reading Refugee Support Group | Nick Harborne | CEO |