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Swindon City of Sanctuary is part of a wider movement that seeks to build a culture of welcome, inclusion and support for everyone in Swindon, with a focus on those seeking sanctuary (in legal terms known as refugees & asylum seekers).
In practical terms, we do this by bringing people and organisations together, raising awareness and celebrating our diverse town through the national scheme of sanctuary awards.
Why the community needs us
Swindon City of Sanctuary helps break down barriers to social isolation and to help the community better understand the positive impact of migration, the reality of the UK asylum system and why being a welcoming and inclusive town is beneficial to us all.
People seeking sanctuary experience high levels of hate crime, racism and prejudice which can lead to people feeling stigmatised and isolated within their communities .
Whether it's campaigning for better conditions and systematic change for people seeking sanctuary, raising awareness and celebrating the benefits our multicultural town brings to us all through our Sanctuary Awards; we strive to make Swindon a more welcoming inclusive place to live and work, and in turn making Swindon a better place for all.
Our impact on the community
Swindon City of Sanctuary grew from a group of local people who were compelled to support the increasing numbers of people from across the world seeking refuge - as war, hunger, political turmoil and climate change have continued to drive people from their homes and families. Since 2016, over 1,000 people and organisations in Swindon have supported our cause and work with us to make Swindon a welcoming and inclusive place for all.
Over the past four years, we’ve supported those seeking sanctuary through:
- The ‘Room for All’ hosting scheme, providing 2,565 nights of accommodation for those who were destitute or homeless
- Our weekly evening social, with over 1,600 visits so far
- Giving out 150 bus passes so people can attend our projects, interviews and volunteering
- Educating 4,500 school children in 17 local schools
- Engaging over 5,000 people in Refugee Week and other events celebrating the different cultures in our town.
- Supporting 7 sanctuary seekers to be part of Sanctuary in Parliaments in London, and being involved in 10 local and national campaigns for sanctuary seekers’ rights
- Group yoga and 1:1 wellbeing sessions for 15 people so far
- Family Activity Boxes for 25 families during lockdown
We have made a positive impact in many ways – but the hostile environment for sanctuary seekers is only getting worse, and there is still much more to be done.
We thank you for your support to help us make Swindon a welcoming place for all.