Nottingham

The Nottingham City of Sanctuary group held their first open day event for people to find out about the movement, with food and a performance of South African freedom songs by a local choir at The Vine Centre, Hyson Green.

Craig Barnett, the national organiser, introduced the movement.  

 "This is the start of your movement to make Nottingham a City of Sanctuary - that takes pride in being a place of safety for people whose lives have been uprooted by war and persecution. It is a very ambitious goal, to encourage all of Nottingham's communities, faith groups, schools, businesses and local government to take responsibility for being a welcoming and safe place for people in need of sanctuary. But a city that welcomes and includes people seeking sanctuary is a better place for everyone to live in - it will also be safer and more welcoming for anyone who is newly arrived, vulnerable or at riskof isolation.

"Working to become a City of Sanctuary is a way for all the different communities, faith and cultural groups of Nottingham to unite around a positive vision for your city. It is also a way to enable people seeking sanctuary here to contribute their skills and talents to the life of the city."