The themes of this year’s Guardian and Observer charity appeal are youth homelessness and destitution among asylum seekers. These are overlapping causes which are both compelling and urgent, and which highlight the dire risk that austerity and the erosion of the social security safety net pose to some of society’s most vulnerable people. We…
Last month, a new report from Women for Refugee Women was published - We are still here: the continued detention of women seeking asylum in Yarls Wood, Bedfordshire.
Campaigners from Liberty and JCWI have warned that a clause smuggled into the Government’s new data protection law would create a two-tier, racially discriminatory data protection regime and undermine millions of people’s privacy rights. The widespread sharing of personal data collected by frontline agencies with the Home Office is the…
We urge our supporters to join The Refugee Council new supporter action, which they have just launched as part of their campaign to change the UK’s restrictive rules surrounding refugee family reunion. They are asking supporters to email their MP and ask them to save the date for the second reading debate, which…
As friends of asylum seekers, we in City of Sanctuary already know about the substandard accommodation given to asylum seekers forced to share with people they have never met. We welcome the Guardian bringing this story to public attention and hope that people write to tell their MPs it's not acceptable and…
City of Sanctuary are working with Asylum Matters and the Parliamentary Manager for the Refugee Council and the AAPG for…
The Refugee Council report - Refugees without refuge was published in September 2017.
New research from Refugee Action: English language provision ‘not fit for purpose’ as refugees wait up tothree years to start lessons. This is very helpful information for City of Sanctuary supporters who are lobbying their MPs about the need for better access for asylum seekers to English classes in support…
In a recent article, the Guardian revealed that banks and building societies will be carrying out immigration checks on 70m current accounts from January ‘in the biggest extension of Theresa May’s plans to create a “hostile environment” for illegal immigrants in Britain.’ The accounts of those found to be staying illegally…
Asylum campaigner, John Grayson has written an insightful article on the Direct Provision (DP) system for asylum seekers in Ireland. The DP system commenced in April 2000, offering asylum seekers bed and board accommodation, and an allowance of €19.10 a week per adult, with an additional €9.60 a week per child. The…
A new City of Sanctuary group in Portsmouth, led by British Red Cross and inspired by Journeys Festival International arrival in the city in 2016 held its initial meeting on Wednesday 20th September to explore ‘how Portsmouth can become a city of sanctuary.
by Maria Wilby
At Sanctuary in Parliament III, we heard from Steve Symonds from Amnesty International about the lack of family reunion rights…
Thanks to Ambrose Musiyawa, CivicLeicester and Emma Finlinson for their photographs of the event.
This report has been written by our trustee, Joseph Chivayo, British Red Cross Voices Ambassador and member of Derby City of Sanctuary. Further reports, photos etc. can be found here.