We were delighted to host our annual conference and AGM in Birmingham earlier this month. Hundreds of City of Sanctuary groups, awarded institutions and partner organisations came together to celebrate the networks’ successes, resilience and exciting future plans.

The theme of this year’s conference was Speak Up for Sanctuary, and focused on how to mobilise our networks to stand up for refugee rights.

If we’re going to achieve our vision of a truly welcoming UK, then each and every one us needs to channel our passion into ongoing democratic participation, beyond the single act of putting a cross on the ballot slip in the voting booth. Real democracy is about getting out there, standing up for what you believe in and speaking up for the values that you live by. And we have the reach to make an enormous impact. From schools and universities to local councils, libraries and arts organisations, City of Sanctuary is working in almost every sector in almost every area of the country.

After another tough year, this day was about celebrating the incredible things we’ve achieved, and then feeling energised and inspired about the challenges ahead.

Thank you so much to the team at Birmingham City of Sanctuary who helped us host the event. Birmingham truly exemplifies what it is to be a City of Sanctuary. From the local council to the universities, schools and theatres – every aspect of this community is committed to showing compassion and welcome to people forced to flee.

The day also saw speakers and attendees from Birmingham City Council, Dr Sabir Zazai, Stand and Be Counted, Theatre Company of Sanctuary, Alice Mpofu-Coles, Jonathan Ellis, Mamoud Nyelenkeh and local School of Sanctuary, Abbey Roman Catholic Primary School as well as people with lived experience of seeking sanctuary now living in Birmingham and elsewhere, community groups providing direct aid provision to new arrivals and campaigners from Lewisham Migrant Rights Network, Praxis, Hope not Hate and Together With Refugees.

Thank you so much to everyone who attended. Each and every one of you make City of Sanctuary what it is. To everyone in this movement of welcome, thank you!

If you did enjoy the day and would like to make a donation, we would be incredibly grateful. Click here to make a donation.