City of Sanctuary is a movement to build a culture of hospitality for people seeking sanctuary in the UK.
Many towns and cities are seeking recognition as places of safety and welcome. Sheffield, Bradford, Coventry, Bristol, and Swansea already have that status; others like Hull and Oxford are working to attain recognition.
The movement is intended to be from the ground upwards, not something imposed by Government or Local Authority. Therefore, support from individuals, local community groups, schools, universities, sporting organizations, voluntary and statutory bodies is not only welcome but essential.
We aim to gather pledges of support from all sectors of society. The City of York Council will be asked to seek recognition from the national organizers of City of Sanctuary, so that York may officially receive that status.
Paul Wordsworth writes…..
I am now based at the office of York Racial Equality Network, at 20 Falsgrave Crescent,
(off Burton Stone Lane) YO30 7AZ.
YREN (as they are widely known) in addition to providing desk space and wi-fi facilities, offer administrative support, which is proving very helpful. As a ‘new kid on the block’ York City of Sanctuary is pleased to have YREN’s backing, and they have agreed to be represented as one of our partners on the YCoS Management group.
Come and see me
To mark the start of Refugee Week, YREN and YCoS are holding an Open House at the Falsgrave Crescent offices on Monday June 18th from 10am – 12 noon. Come and see me there. I can promise refreshments, and a chance to put my laptop aside and enjoy some conversation with you. There is a myth-busting quiz being planned- the topic is ‘Refugees’- so come and increase your knowledge, or amaze us with what you already know!
Managing the Money
We now have a bank account; ‘York City of Sanctuary’
If you have donations to forward, then cheques can be made out to that name. We are looking for a treasurer who will help steer our finances forward. If you can offer your services in this way then contact me for further details.
York Refugee Week 18th – 25th June 2012
Friday June 15th – Monday June 25th
Exhibition in York Minster including material from City of Sanctuary
Saturday June 16th; 11am – 8.30pm
Community Café at Space 109, Walmgate
Good food provided during the day and a range of cuisine from around the world to taste. From 5.30pm Words and Music from local and international artistes, and if you bring along a song or poem, there could be an open mike for you!
Saturday June 23rd 11am – 4pm
Celebrate Refugee Week with a pop-up stall in Parliament Square with information about Global/ UK and York refugee action. City of Sanctuary hopes to be there to hand out information about how people can sign resolutions of support. Offers of help for an hour or so on the stall would be appreciated. Contact details at the end of the Newsletter.
Sunday June 24th from Midday onwards
Refugee Action York are organising a Picnic in the Park, and inviting refugees to come together with local people to share a meal and talk to each other about life in our city.
If you know of other events, do please let me know and I will circulate information before the start of Refugee Week and put it on our own website.
For information about what is going on across the UK
go to www.refugeeweek.org.uk
Call for help
Mary, is a trustee of Refugee Action York, living in Leeds. She is involved with an anti-deportation campaign to enable a woman from her local community to secure indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
Roseline arrived in the UK from Nigeria in 2004 to study for a Masters Degree at Leeds University. In 2005, she unexpectedly developed serious kidney failure, and remained on dialysis until she was fortunate enough to receive a kidney transplant at St.James Hospital in 2009. Her Consultant instructs her to take immunosuppressant drugs or her transplant will fail.
She has applied for leave to remain in the UK because such drugs are largely unavailable in Nigeria, or extremely costly. Without drugs she will have to return to dialysis which is also largely unavailable in Nigeria or at a cost beyond her reach. Without drugs or dialysis she will die.
Roseline has been supported since 2007 by parishioners from St. Augustine’s RC Church, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. She has never been allowed to take paid employment, but has volunteered in a number of community based groups, despite her health problems. She is widely known, respected and loved by a wide range of people in the community.
If you would would like to support Mary and the people of Harehills in their petition to the Home Secretary, asking that Roseline be granted indefinite leave to stay in the UK, so that she may stay alive, then you can sign up by going to:
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-the-deportation-of-transplant-p...
You do need to use the full address to reach the sign in page.
Organisations and bodies signed up since March 2012;
Fairer World shop – Gillygate
York Older Peoples Assembly
York Green Party
Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (York)
York Inter Faith group
Baha’i Faith in York
Clifton CE Church, York
St.Paulinus RC Church- York
St Michael-le-belfry CE Church,York
York Carmelite Spirituality Group
Bishopthorpe Local Ecumenical Partnership
A total of 37 organisations, groups, and communities have now registered their support for York’s bid to become a City of Sanctuary. That is an average 6 new support groups a month.
- Do you belong to a community group?
- An organisation offering services or sports in York?
- A Faith Group?
- A business, retail outlet, or commercial company?
- Have you asked the leaders/ managers to consider signing the City of Sanctuary Resolution of Support document?
That enables us to keep them up to date with developments and offer suggestions about how to support our work.
You can go to our website, find the Resolution document there, and print it off. http://www.cityofsanctuary.org/node/1498
Or you can contact me and I will send you a copy.
Remember, Resolutions need to be signed by a person in authority on behalf of the group, organisation or business. This will normally take place after discussion by those responsible for making decisions on behalf of the group or company.
Thanks also to those of you who have signed as individuals.
Keep those forms coming; every one is important towards our bid to become a City of Sanctuary.
Introducing YREN
Our partner is a voluntary organisation and a registered charity, set up in 1992. Its core aim is to promote awareness of the needs of black and minority ethnic (BME) people in the York area. It develops links with voluntary, statutory and private sector agencies, encouraging a multi-agency approach to race issues. It gives independent, impartial information and support to individuals who experience racial harassment, victimisation, discrimination, or isolation. Information and resources on race equality issues are available to community groups.
Twenty years old.
If you have done the maths you will see that YREN is celebrating it’s 20th birthday this year. One of the celebrations for you to share and enjoy is planned for 25th May in St. Sampson’s Square, 10am – 4pm This is a joint event with three other York groups which were also founded 20 years ago: The Healing Clinic, Future Prospects, and Brunswick Organic Nursery. There will be multi-cultural food to sample, and cultural activities to watch or join in, including hair styling for European, African-Caribbean or Mixed Heritage hair, and make up demonstrations. You can also find out about each of the organisations because they will have stands and staff there.
Going up
A sign of the growth of the YCoS movement in York is the expansion of our bi-monthly Newsletter.
Issue 1- January 2012; Sent to 25
Issue 2- March 2012; Sent to 50
Issue 3- May 2012: Sent to 110
If you’d like a copy please contact the co-ordinator.
Going out
I am happy to receive invitations to come and speak to groups about the aims and hopes of YCoS. The more people hear the message and stir themselves to respond, the nearer we shall be to achieving our aim of seeking official recognition as a City of Sanctuary.
Finally
The Northern Regional Meeting of City of Sanctuary delegates will take place on Monday 16th July in York. We are delighted to be able to play host to the event, which will bring representatives from both Northern England and Scotland to our city. The venue will be the Reception Room of the Mansion House, so delegates will be at the heart of the city.
To contact me: Paul Wordsworth (YCoS Co-ordinator)
co-ordinator@yorkcityofsanctuary.org.uk
By post;
YCoS
c/o YREN
20 Falsgrave Crescent
York
YO30 7AZ
