Manchester City of Sanctuary: Building a Network of Welcome
People who seek sanctuary, fleeing war & persecution, are looking for safety, welcome and friendship.
Manchester can be that place – a city of sanctuary.
Our vision is for every person seeking sanctuary to feel part of a supportive community that understands and accepts them.
Our mission is to make Manchester a welcoming place for refugees and asylum seekers.
Our approach:
We bring together refugees, asylum seekers and local Mancunians for shared understanding, fun, friendship and wellbeing:
- Connecting Sanctuary Seekers with Manchester locals through fun and friendship-building events such as social events and coffee mornings.
- Helping Sanctuary Seekers to stay active with accessible physical activities such as yoga classes and cycle training.
- Providing social opportunities and training to learn about each other and learn new skills.
- Enabling Sanctuary Seekers to volunteer with us and with other organisations.
- Creating safe spaces for Sanctuary Seekers to share and reflect on their experiences.
- Supporting Sanctuary Seekers to get to know Manchester.
- Supporting local organisations to be better able to understand and support Sanctuary Seekers.
Manchester City of Sanctuary has charity status: Ref number 1168839. If you would like to donate to us you can donate here or sign up to our newsletter here.
Follow us on Twitter: @ManchesterCoS and Instagram: @mcrcityofsanctuary or like our Facebook page.
Latest News
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Voicing Silence
We were really excited to be able to offer 2 workshops around the idea of extinction with participants sharing their feelings and responses through the medium of art.
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Activity Update
We've been getting the hang of using zoom and it's really opened up the range of activities we can now provide to the Sanctuary Seekers we work with.
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Volunteer Voices
I've been volunteering with City of Sanctuary for over two years. I was inspired to join because of the ethos of community and making our city a place of welcome to those who have been displaced. This was done through…
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Corona Poem
Inspired by one of our events in partnership with Manchester Libraries, Farheen wrote this poem about Corona Virus and it's impact.
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‘My Experience of Lockdown and how Manchester City of Sanctuary has supported me’
We asked some of the Sanctuary Seekers if they wanted to write something for the website and the newsletter. Pauline really wanted to, and wrote the following about her experience of locakdown, and how Manchester City of Sanctuary has been…
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Standing in Solidarity
Manchester City of Sanctuary works with asylum seekers and refugees - members of society whose backgrounds involve discrimination, fear and persecution. We are led by their needs and give platforms for their voices, stories and experiences. We welcome all with…
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Over 220 organisations write to the Home Secretary demanding an increase asylum support rates
On Monday 8th June, the Home Office announced a shameful increase of just £1.85 a week to the financial support people seeking asylum in the UK rely on. That’s a meagre 26p a day; and leaves people still forced to…
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Message from the Trustees
Dear Friends,
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Migrant Destitution Fund
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Covid-19 Update
The Coronavirus pandemic is making life uncertain and unstable. In light of current government guidance, and as a way of protecting the most vulnerable, Manchester City of Sanctuary has taken the decision to postpone all face-to-face meetings and events until…
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January was off with a bang!
Despite the rainy weather and the travel disruptions due to the parade in the city, our January Big Conversation was a great success!
Read all our news.
Our Next Event
To see what events are coming up you can visit our events page here.
Our Handbook
Have you seen our handbook for Sanctuary Seekers in Manchester, written for Sanctuary Seekers BY sanctuary seekers. Download it here.
Donate
Could you help us with a one off or monthly donation? A small amount goes a long way. Just £8 enable a Sanctuary Seeker to attend two social sessions. Donate here.