Sheffield

City of Sanctuary is a movement to build a culture of welcome and hospitality for refugees and asylum-seekers. In 2007, with the support of the City Council, Sheffield became the UK’s first ‘City of Sanctuary’ for asylum-seekers and refugees—-a city that takes pride in the welcome it offers to people in need of safety.

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City of Sanctuary's first Awayday

More than 50 representatives from City of Sanctuary groups all over the country got together in a beautiful Pennine setting for the movement’s first ever national ‘Awayday’. During the course of 24 hours we heard about all the different ways people are putting the City of Sanctuary ethos into practice according to specific local circumstances –
World Refugee Day and beyond

From World Refugee Day on June 20th through to the end of August people in Sheffield will be staging a number of events to highlight the situation of refugees and celebrate all they bring to the city. Starting with a launch event in Burngreave on Monday June 20th, moving on to the annual ASSIST World Over concert in Sheffield Cathedral on Saturday 25th, you can take part in a range of activities including music, drama and country walks.
Star editorial praises Gleadless event

Gleadless residents pulled together to lay on their second “Community Social” attracting approval from the Star newspaper, whose editorial described it as “a tremendous effort (that) will go a long way towards building closer understanding among people who have made the estate their home”. The event, organised by City of Sanctuary and Gleadless Valley forum, and funded by the Community Assembly, brought together people from the many different cultures living in the area for a celebration of food and conversation.
More help for torture survivors around Sheffield

Yorkshire is back in the frame to have a dedicated worker to assist victims of torture. The announcement was made by Keith Best, Chief Executive of the national torture care organisation the Medical Foundation (pictured here with Jim Steinke and David Price, chair and vice-chair of SYMAAG), speaking at the AGM of the South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group (SYMAAG). Keith Best was in Sheffield to meet local supporters of the Medical Foundation, which is in the process of changing its name to Freedom from Torture. He also had meetings with health professionals at the Mulberry Clinic, as well as addressing the AGM. He made both announcements to a gathering of about 70 people, saying the new post would be possible following a successful application for European funding.
A Quiet Space for Refugees?

An international movement that creates gardens as places of sanctuary is looking for a partner to host a site for the use of asylum seekers in Sheffield. The Quiet Garden Movement was launched in 1992 to provide a network of local opportunities where people can retreat and reflect in solitude. More than 300 ‘Quiet Gardens’ now exist in countries from Kenya to Brazil, Australia to Finland, as well as most counties in the UK. The movement’s founder, Philip Roderick, now lives in Sheffield, where he’d like to create a garden specifically for people who’re seeking asylum.
£10 a mile for asylum

Sheffield solicitor Carita Thomas shows her appreciation to all who supported her 60 kilometre walk for two local asylum charities. Her total sponsorship of more than £500 means that along with Rachel (see below) and four local medics they’ll have raised well on the way to £1,000 for ASSIST. Well walked Carita!
Running for refugees

Congratulations to Rachel Westerby, who came in at an amazing 3,865th in the Sheffield half-marathon at the weekend, running in support of ASSIST (Sheffield Asylum-Seeker Support Initiative – Short Term). Rachel, who until recently worked in Sheffield Council’s Asylum Team, covered the 13 miles in 2 hours 19 minutes and 30 seconds, and is two-thirds of the way to her sponsorship target of £300.
Archbishop speaks up for refugees

The Archsbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has pleaded for Britain to take up the Easter message of resurrection and ensure refugees are given the protection they need. Writing in _The Independent_ newspaper the Archbishop argues that when the public-spending cuts bite, it should not be the most vulnerable of all who suffer.
Our Party!

Big thanks to all of you who came to our annual party, and if you didn't, you missed a great gig! There was loads of yummy food cooked by our refugee volunteers - just enough to fill the 100-plus people who turned up.
Community gets together in Gleadless

Residents from different countries and backgrounds came together in Gleadless at the weekend to find out more about their neighbours. City of Sanctuary organised the event with Gleadless Valley Community Forum after some local refugee families reported incidents of harrassment by local youths.
Summer of Sanctuary Closing Event

The Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Councillor Alan Law, JP, led the celebrations for the closing event of Sheffield first ‘Summer of Sanctuary’ at the Town Hall. Some 60 guests from refugee and supporting organisations which had hosted events during the last three months attended the ceremony, where the city council’s Executive Director of Communities Richard Webb handed out certificates to all who had contributed.
"Moving to Mars" on More 4

The documentary “Moving to Mars”, screened on More 4 on Tuesday Feb 2nd, shows the relatively smooth and managed migration of two Burmese families as they are transferred from a refugee camp in Thailand to begin new lives in Sheffield.
Sheffield scores a century!

At City of Sanctuary we aim to make everyone feel at home, so it seems particularly fitting that Sheffield Homes has become the 100th organisation to sign up to the movement. The event was marked at a special ceremony where Sheffield Homes signed a large-scale pledge, and City of Sanctuary Chair Inderjit Bhogal presented Sheffield Homes with a framed certificate of congratulations.
Have a say in your city!

If you live, work or study in Sheffield you could join a team of people who work with the city council to make sure your thoughts and ideas are included in discussions about improving life in the city.