This is your City of Sanctuary
Who are we?
Wherever we come from, we all have a right to feel safe. That’s why city by city, community by community, we are building a more welcoming UK for people rebuilding their lives here.
From community groups to schools and universities, local council to libraries and theatres, we work with individuals, groups and organisations in every sector to encourage inclusivity, solidarity and compassion for people from a forced displacement background.
We are a small charity with a huge vision that every person seeking sanctuary feels welcomed, safe and that their contribution to the community is valued.
Our Sanctuary Awards recognise and celebrate the organisations who go above and beyond to welcome people seeking sanctuary.
What do we do?
- We mobilise institutions such as schools, colleges, universities, arts organisations, health centres, faith groups and local government to pledge their support and to act on these pledges by embedding practices of welcome and inclusivity which are recognised and celebrated by our Sanctuary Awards.
- We connect with the wider Bristol community, engaging people in our work through volunteering, donating or campaigning.
- We challenge local and national policy and practice, advocating for a compassionate and forward-looking approach which values the contributions people seeking sanctuary make.
Bristol has been part of the City of Sanctuary movement for over a decade. It would not have been possible without people like you. We are made up of people who go above and beyond to change things for the better.
Bristol City of Sanctuary, Bristol Refugee Festival, and Bridges for Communities are working with community groups, schools, cafes, visitor attractions, GP surgeries, arts organisations, and places of worship all across Bristol.
And we would love to work alongside you to see your neigbourhood become more connected and welcoming.
Which step would be a good fit for your community?
What can I do?
Support our Transport Fund for People Seeking Sanctuary
A day pass for the bus in Bristol is £6.50.
The current support from the Home Office for people waiting for a decision on their asylum claim is just over £7 a day.
Asylum seekers who have been placed in Initial Accommodation Hotels where food is provided receive only £8.86 a week; barely £1 a day.
It doesn’t add up.
Bristol is a big city and a lot of the important services for people seeking sanctuary are located centrally. This means many asylum seekers are forced either to walk for miles or to spend nearly all their allowance on bus tickets over essentials such as phone credit to speak with family members, printing costs for legal documents or suitable clothing.
We are partnering with First Bus to provide free bus tickets for people seeking sanctuary.