Hi All,

Important dates for your diaries:

On Wednesday evening 13th April at 6pm there’s a chance to see the new play ‘We Arise’, written, choreographed and performed by asylum women from WAST (Women Asylum Seekers Together) before it goes up to Newcastleupon Tyne. It will be performed at Z-Arts, 335 Stretford Rd, Hulme, M15. There may still be a few tickets left (£5 /Asylum Seekers no charge). https://outlook . live . com/owa/?path=/mail/search/attachmentlightbox

On Monday 18th April about 12pm, all the MCoS Cyclists, who have been on the TfGM Cycling Project at Alexandra Park, will be presented with their new donated bikes and equipment. It would be great if any of you are free to come down to the Cycle depot at the end of Russell Street and join the celebrations.

On Thursday 21st April 6-8pm at Manchester Cathedral Vistors Centre, 10 Cateaton St, M3 1SQ, there’ll be the next MCoS Conversation Club. (See below for more details.)

Each of these events is an attempt to rehumanise the Asylum process and change statistics into real people, each with a history, who need a future, too.

Greetings
from Jane, Dianne, Charles, Jila, Anita, Mayam, David, Fay, Jeff &  Nadine,

The next Conversation Club will be on Thursday 21st April 6-8pm at Manchester Cathedral Visitors Centre, 10 Cateaton Street, near Selfridges, M3 1SQ. The theme is ‘Not just an Asylum Seeker’ and is being organised by MCoS Volunteers.

The next Community Meal is on Sunday 24th April 1-3pm. We’ll be planting some bulbs and seeds, food and flowers.

Conversation Club is a chance for people of the same nationality or who speak the same language to meet and encourage each other and pass on news and advice on surviving in the asylum system.
It’s a chance for British people to share local knowledge and help sanctuary seekers integrate in their new society.

Maternity Services

On Thursday May 5th, 10am -12.30pm, MCoS will be hosting the Launch of Manchester City of Sanctuary’s Maternity Stream. The event is for everyone interested in increasing levels of support for mothers-to-be who are also sanctuary seekers. We hope to bring together pregnant and nursing mothers who are in the asylum process, with local midwives and health visitors, midwives, NCT members, doulas, breastfeeding support, befrienders and anyone else interested in supporting these women during and after pregnancy.

Please contact becca@cityofsanctuary . org if you would like an invitation to the event at Transformation Community Resource Centre, Richmond Grove, M13 0LN, behind Longsight Police Station.
Please share #MCoSmaternitystream
 

Can you help?

Manchester City of Sanctuary runs on the generosity of its supporters.
People fleeing persecution and war usually arrive alone. They have left everything to find a place of safety. After a period of time in detention, and several addresses later, they may be moved to a street near you.
Please help us to connect new asylum seekers with people who can welcome and help them.

We need small amounts of money to use to pay bus fares.
Each Conversation Club needs 60-70 bus fares, each English Class, bike session, theatre ticket, planning group session needs 10-12 bus fares to make it possible for asylum seekers to take part.

We need larger amounts of money to fund our worker after September and to develop many more integration activities.

You can now sign up for a direct debit form on our website https://manchester . cityofsanctuary . org. There will be donation boxes and direct debit forms available at each Conversation Club. Please contact Anita if you can help [email protected] or [email protected]

This Wednesday 13th April 

at Z-Arts, 335 Stretford Rd,  Hulme, M15

6pm- 8pm

tickets £5.00
(For asylum seekers – discounted tickets) 

Tickets can be purchased through this link on line or at the door ( if we aren’t sold out by then)

 http ://www . z-arts . org/events/still-we-rise/

 Here’s a LINK to a radio interview by members of the group;   http ://www . bbc . co . uk/programmes/p03pgk6k

“The objective of the City of Sanctuary movement is to create a culture of welcome and hospitality for those seeking Sanctuary, Refugees and other vulnerable migrants amongst us” – Inderjit Bhogal, founder of City of Sanctuary