Yesterday City of Sanctuary UK, the charity that once encouraged school children to make Valentine’s cards for asylum seekers, released a very helpful guide “to informed, compassion conversations about asylum”.
The charity is so compassionate that it doesn’t even use the term “asylum seekers”, incidentally, preferring to use the term “people seeking sanctuary”.
In an email about its new “Facts About Sanctuary resource”, it writes:
Hi Charlotte
The Facts about Sanctuary provides clear, accessible information about people seeking sanctuary in the UK. But facts alone don’t change hearts and minds. This guide encourages you to bring your own thoughts, experiences, and humanity into the conversation – because connection is what truly transforms understanding.
Click here to download your guide to informed, compassionate conversations about asylum. [NB I have not attached this as I had to sign up to receive the link]
There is also a version formatted for printing on two sides of A4 available here.
Use it as a standalone resource to feel informed and prepared, or pair it with our Courageous Conversations guide for the complete toolkit: the facts to ground you, and the skills to engage meaningfully.
The vast majority of us want a fair and kind system for people seeking sanctuary, but our voices are not being heard. Can you share the guide and get even more people speaking up?
Kind regards,
HannahP.S. Here at City of Sanctuary UK we work with thousands of community groups, schools, universities, libraries, councils and more to ensure that people seeking sanctuary are met with welcome, support and empowering opportunities. Can you chip in and help us grow this movement of welcome?
Naturally I have since read the guide, and I am ready to have “informed” conversations, armed with facts such as:
“Nearly all people who cross the Channel claim asylum, showing these journeys are about survival, not opportunity.”
“Everyone arriving is screened for safety”
Clearly the screening process is going incredibly well:
Elsewhere the charity says “There’s no evidence that people seeking sanctuary commit more crime than British citizens”
And “Have you noticed how often we’re told to look down, not up, when things feel unfair?”
Frankly, many of us are just looking around to try and stay safe.
The guide ends with the question: “What kind of community do you want to live in- fearful or fair?”
Fair is, of course, my answer.
Sadly we are all very fearful when events like this are happening so regularly:
Funders of City of Sanctuary UK listed below:
AB Charitable Trust (also funds Hope Not Hate Charitable Trust)
The Tudor Trust
Paul Hamlyn Foundation (also funds Hope Not Hate Charitable Trust)
City Bridge Trust
Gale Charitable Trust
Postcode Community Trust
Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
Lloyds Bank Foundation (England & Wales)
Unbound Philanthropy (also funds Hope Not Hate Charitable Trust)
More:
