Huddersfield Pakistani Community Alliance in Thornton Lodge has signed up as the 50th member of the dynamic local initiative known as ‘Huddersfield Town of Sanctuary’. Huddersfield Town of Sanctuary, which is run by local volunteers, helps to make the town a welcoming place for people seeking sanctuary from war and persecution. In just seven months, local organisations have shown just how enthusiastic they are about putting this into action.

Town of Sanctuary Chair Ann Bettys said, ‘This is fantastic news for us. We have all sorts of organisations – from allotment associations to sports clubs – promising to involve people seeking sanctuary in their activities. The Pakistani Community Alliance, which does great work with people of all ages, is just the sort of organisation we want to see involved.’

Mumtaz Ali, Manager of HPCA, said ‘We feel proud and privileged to be part of the Huddersfield Town of Sanctuary as an organisation representing an ethnic minority. We know what’s involved when someone makes that journey from their home country and what a difficult decision this is. For someone who has nothing, sitting down for a chat over a cup of tea can stay with them for ever.’

Supporters of Huddersfield Town of Sanctuary will celebrate this important milestone at an international family ceilidh at Greenhead College on March 19th, 4.30- 8.30pm. With delicious international food, dance, music, song, mask making, facepainting and balloon modelling there will be something for everyone. Tickets are available from Huddersfield Methodist Mission or by calling 0798 2079451, for £5 in advance (includes free food). Entry is free for Under 16s and people seeking sanctuary / refugees. Entry is £6 on the night.

Huddersfield Pakistani Community Alliance (HPCA) recently became the 50th organisation to sign a Resolution of Support for Huddersfield Town of Sanctuary. For information on how to become a supporting organisation please visit http://www.cityofsanctuary.org/node/475 where you can download and sign a Resolution.

To see the current list of supporters go to http://www.cityofsanctuary.org/node/488

It is less than a year since the first meeting at the Methodist Mission to see if there was enough support to set up Huddersfield Town of Sanctuary. We have done a great deal in that time. We have a very good steering group, with people bringing their skills and enthusiasm and hard work together to make people in Huddersfield more aware of sanctuary seekers and refugees in our communities. There are people who are used to working with the media, planning events, looking after the money, working with sanctuary seekers. From a personal point of view meeting and becoming friends with people seeking sanctuary has made a huge difference to how I see my own life as I get to know more about theirs. (read more by clicking on the title above)

The launch of Huddersfield Town of Sanctuary was an amazing event with a sense of energy and enthusiasm for the idea of welcoming and including people seeking sanctuary in our everyday activities.

We were expecting 100 people and were amazed and delighted to see over 200! A wonderful diversity of ages, cultures, faiths and races was to be seen in the people who were present. Masoumeh Kalhorynajad had prepared fantastic food, a whole range of dishes and colours and tastes with plenty for everyone.

The Mayor of Kirklees, Andrew Palfreeman gave a formal welcome and commended the ideals of the Town of Sanctuary, wishing it luck for the future. We were glad to have Craig Barnett, the National Co-ordinator, from Sheffield with us, and we watched the City of Sanctuary film.

Dieudonne Manirakiza and the Burundi Drummers performed with such energy and life echoing the general feeling of the evening. In smaller groups we were able to consider how we might make Huddersfield a Town of Sanctuary for refugees and people fleeing persecution in their own countries.

People commented afterwards that it made them feel proud to live in Huddersfield, how it was such a vibrant and well attended event, and how, to echo the words of the Mayor, they looked forward to Huddersfield becoming the first Town of Sanctuary in the UK.