Summer of Sanctuary: Building Welcome in Our Communities
A year ago, hateful words inspired hateful actions when riots and racist attacks broke out on our streets.
We know that when politicians and press normalise racism and Islamophobia, outbreaks of violence like we saw last summer become terrifyingly inevitable.
We desperately need leadership which stamps out systemic racism; tackles the real issues facing us all and inspires belief in a better world. Until then it’s up to all of us to call out racism and bigotry in all its forms, to look out for our neighbours, and to double our efforts in building a UK that is a true place of welcome for all.
Summer of Sanctuary offers each of us three simple ways to build the bonds that make our communities strong. No special skills required, no lengthy commitments needed – just small actions that create ripples of positive change.
Three Steps to Building Welcome
Step 1: Write to Your Local Paper
Your voice in the local paper carries weight. Editors want to hear from real community members, and a thoughtful letter can shift how thousands of people think about an issue.
Don’t worry about being a perfect writer – authenticity matters more than eloquence. Keep it around 150 words, focus on one clear point, and always tie it back to your local community. The goal isn’t to win debates, but to plant seeds of empathy.
Step 2: Display a Window of Welcome
A poster or sticker in your window, shop, or car sends a quiet but clear message: this is a place where people are valued regardless of where they come from.
The beautiful, downloadable designs focus on universal values of kindness and community. When these posters appear across a neighborhood, they create visible proof that welcome is winning over fear.
Business owners particularly have found these displays meaningful. A simple poster signals to refugee customers that they’re truly welcome, while showing other community members that diversity is good for everyone.
Step 3: Have Courageous Conversations
We are not talking about refugee rights enough. Maybe we feel overwhelmed. Maybe we fear how people will respond. But if we’re to build a kinder and fairer world, then we need to get talking.
It’s been shown that just a single ten minute long conversation encouraging actively taking the perspective of others can markedly reduce prejudice for at least 3 months. So one of the best tools we have for change is free and accessible to everyone.
This summer, as we mark the anniversary of last year’s appalling violence, we must actively choose welcome. Rather than waiting for others to lead, we can step up and take simple steps ourselves.
It starts with each of us, in our own communities, taking one small step toward the world we want to live in. Because the opposite of last summer’s division isn’t just the absence of conflict – it’s the presence of active, intentional welcome.