Children and young people seeking sanctuary often experience various events that can negatively impact on their wellbeing and happiness, and schools play a central role in supporting them.

Importantly, these experiences can occur pre-, trans- and post-migration and can vary significantly between students from sanctuary-seeking backgrounds. Nonetheless, an awareness in schools and amongst teachers of the differing ways students’ wellbeing may be harmed and how this might manifest in students’ behaviours and emotions are vital for effectively providing care.

To effectively meet the psycho-emotional needs of students seeking sanctuary, schools must consider:

• how they can ensure their environments are safe, supportive and welcoming;
• how they can raise awareness amongst staff on the implications for the wellbeing of students’ seeking sanctuary and the approaches to best support them;
• and how they can safeguard teacher’s wellbeing when working with students from sanctuary seeking backgrounds.

In this short, online event participants will hear from a range of speakers with insight and expertise in the field including:

Megan Greenwood, Schools of Sanctuary Coordinator

Josh Corlett, Education Coordinator at the International Rescue Committee

Karen Chouhan, Lead Equalities Officer at the National Education Union

In this event in recognition of Refugee Week’s theme of healing, speakers will outline practical suggestions and strategies schools and school staff can adopt to better support the psycho-emotional needs of students from sanctuary seeking backgrounds and how they can ensure that school is a place of healing.

If you have any access requirements, please email Emily at [email protected].
Register here