After some six months of behind-the-scenes activity, the working group responsible for Hull’s City of Sanctuary initiative went public on 18th June 2010, when some 120 people attended an evening of celebration, music and food, to mark the official launch.

The Rev Barbara Routley, minister of Princes Avenue Methodist church (which runs the weekly Open Doors drop-in) welcomed one of Hull’s three MPs, Ms Diana Johnson, among several high profile guests from the various organisations working in Hull for refugees and asylum seekers. The Rev Inderjit Bhogal, former President of the Methodist Conference and national Chair of the City of Sanctuary movement, spoke about the movement’s origins, and about the powerful resonances in Hull with William Wilberforce, once Hull’s MP.

The Chair of the working group, Emeritus Professor Peter Campion, called on two primary school girls, one from North Africa and one from the Middle East, to welcome the 120 guests, “We welcome you all to our party – thank you for coming”. There was spontaneous applause and the many guests warmed to the occasion, which included interviews with asylum seekers now settled in Hull, a talk from Inderjit about the roots of the notion of places of sanctuary, as illustrated by the creation in the Old Testament of cities of sanctuary. Then sanctuary was provided for centuries by the churches and cathedrals of England, as in the adjacent town of Beverley, with its Minster and a one mile radius area set out by sanctuary crosses, where those in danger of life and limb could find sanctuary.

The Nottingham group was formally launched at a public meeting on October 7th. It was addressed by the Lord Mayor, who referred to the City Council's target to achieve City of Sanctuary status by March 2012.

Other speakers included  Craig Barnett, the national co-ordinator, and two people seeking sanctuary in the city spoke about their experiences in Britain. NAWEF, the Nottingham African Women's Empowerment Forum provided lunch while the Rainbow Choir entertained us.

After lunch, four workshops gave people a chance to exchange ideas on ways forward.

For more details, to offer support, and to get involved, contact Nottingham@cityofsanctuary.org