The story of Bristol City of Sanctuary began in 2008 when a Bristol City Council official brought the idea to a Refugee Week Steering Committee meeting, inspired by Sheffield’s achievement of City of Sanctuary status.
With leadership from Rev Cassandra Howes, former University of West of England Multifaith Chaplaincy, and support from June Borrough, Founder and Director of the Pierian Centre, an initial public meeting took place at the Centre on October 23rd, 2008 with over 50 attendees.
Following that meeting, a group of about 20 committed people, including people from Refugee backgrounds, began to meet and talk about how to take things forward. With funding from the Bristol Legacy Commission, Forward Maisokwadzo was recruited as the first official staff member and Bristol City of Sanctuary was officially launched on Wednesday, 22 June 2011 at Council House and Bristol Cathedral.
On Tuesday 16th November, Bristol City Council voted to give their support to the City of Sanctuary movement in Bristol and agreed to adopt the following statement:
“This Council recognises the contribution of asylum seekers and refugees to the City of Bristol and is committed to welcoming and including them in our activities. The Council also recognises that a comprehensive, co-ordinated and forward-looking approach is needed if City of Sanctuary, the welfare of people moving in to the city, and community cohesion between new and existing communities are to be supported effectively. The Council endorses Bristol’s status as a City of Sanctuary and will work to implement the City of Sanctuary pledges through its Community Cohesion Strategy 2010-13.”
Having already received pledges of support from over 100 local businesses, faith groups, charities and community initiatives, this statement was the last of the four criteria required for Bristol to become a recognised City of Sanctuary. This may not seem like much, but it was the first step in getting the Council to seriously consider the impact of their words and actions on a section of society which is often overlooked and under-represented.
In a public show of support, Bristol Refugee Rights along with our other supporters marched from Easton to Council House on College Green holding banners and placards.
As a result, Bristol officially became a City of Sanctuary on Wednesday 22nd June 2011 at Council House on Bristol’s College Green.
Our Vision
Bristol City of Sanctuary shares the national City of Sanctuary vision that the UK will be a welcoming place of safety for all and proud to offer sanctuary to people fleeing violence and persecution.
Our Team
Yasmin Millican – Bristol City of Sanctuary Manager.
Yasmin has been working in the refugee and asylum seeker support sector for over 10 years. She specialises in the strategic management of rights-based integration programmes for migrants and has experience advocating for the protection of human rights defenders at home and abroad. She joined the BCoS team as Manager in October 2024.
Tessa McNab – Bristol Schools of Sanctuary Coordinator.
Tess joined as Schools of Sanctuary Project Coordinator in January 2024. Her professional experience with Trauma Informed Schools UK and as a class teacher in Bristol and London for over thirty years enables her to lead effectively on trauma informed practice and inclusion.
Ruth Pickersgill – Bristol Voluntary Schools’ Advisor.
Ruth began her involvement with BCOS as a trustee, then in her City Councillor role, and more recently as a volunteer working with Schools of Sanctuary. After a successful career as a primary school teacher and then as Inclusion and Equalities Manager for Bristol City Council, she worked for Oxfam, established and became Chair of WECIL, a local Disabled People’s charity in 1995, as well as Chairing Bristol Refugee Rights. In her role as Assistant Principal at St Brendan’s Sixth Form College she led the way to becoming the first College of Sanctuary in the City.
Kate Pearey – Bristol City of Sanctuary Intern.
Poppy Facer – Bristol City of Sanctuary Intern.
Poppy joined Bristol City of Sanctuary in October 2024 and is working with the team part-time whilst completing her master’s in human rights policy and practice. Prior to her Master’s, Poppy worked for 5 years in the social justice sector leading policy, advocacy, communications and programs focused on access to immunisation and the health impacts of climate change.
Our Trustees
Caroline Beatty: Involved in the development of BCoS from informal beginnings in 2008. Founder and previously manager Bristol Refugee Rights and trustee of City of Sanctuary UK.
Helen Kidan: Helen left Eritrea as a child with her family. She plays an important role as Volunteer Coordinator at Bristol Hospitality Network working with destitute asylum seekers.
Katie Bales: Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Bristol with published research on immigration raids, labour within immigration detention and access to higher education for asylum seekers and refugees.
Nathalie Jaifar (co-chair): Nathalie brings a unique perspective of second generation displacement to the board as her father was a political refugee from Iraq. Nathalie works at Bristol City Council supporting new refugee arrivals in Bristol as part of the refugee resettlement programme.
Souvik Saha: Joined City of Sanctuary after claiming asylum in the UK, volunteering with CoS and becoming a Sanctuary Ambassador in 2017. Participated in the Sanctuary in Politics course and contributes regularly to city discussions on refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.
Susana Askew (co-chair): Retired Oncologist and Senior Lecturer in Medical Education at the University of Bristol, bringing education expertise to our work with our two Bristol universities and partnership with Doctors of the World.
Contact details
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 07341 218773 (This phone line is monitored 9-5 Monday to Thursday)
Address: Bristol City of Sanctuary, The Assisi Centre, Lawfords Gate, Bristol, England BS5 0RE
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