Schools of Sanctuary

Rose McCarthy, National Streams Coordinator,

City of Sanctuary

moved from being dispersed groups to a cohesive network with a focus on both local and national culture change 

Streams of Sanctuary

Arts

Health

Welcome

Faith

Maternity

Schools

School of Sanctuary award

• Engage families and communities

1. Learn2. Embed3. Share• Celebration and opportunity for

reflective learning• Written evidence • Sanctuary seekers support

with learning –stimulating lessons

• Evaluation by appraisal group and presentation at award ceremony

Asylum seekers and refugees as volunteers

• “Asylum Seekers and Refugees (AS&R)the least likely people to become volunteers but the most likely if asked”

• Peer to Peer support – “don’t want others to suffer as we have suffered.”

• AS&R heart of City of Sanctuary – work with and not for

• Key to awards – awareness raising, part of design and appraisal group

• Emily’s story

What is Schools of Sanctuary?A school of Sanctuary is a school that is committed to being

safe and welcoming place for those seeking sanctuary.

An award from City of Sanctuary to celebrate and encourage good practice in schools

Who is a refugee?• An asylum seeker isA person who has fled persecution

in their country and has made a claim to seek international protection somewhere else. (N.B. claiming asylum is a human right.)

• A refugee is

Not to be confused with Economic Migrant/ Illegal Immigrant

A person whose asylum claim was successful, because she has “a well-founded fear of being persecuted” if she goes home.

Asylum in the UK• The UK continues to host just over 1% of the world’s 16.7

million refugees.(UNHCR 2014)• 49% of refugees are women, whilst 50% are under the age of

18.• 0.32% of UK population are refugees• The main host countries in 2013 were: Pakistan, Iran, and

Lebanon (neighbouring countries) • Major source countries of refugees in UK in 2013:Pakistan,

Iran and Sri Lanka –many from Syria, Bangladesh, India, Albania, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Eritrea.

Three simple principles

ShareLearn Embed

Learn

• Invite refugee speakers to tell their stories • Use resources to create activities in lessons

• Invite facilitators to deliver workshops to staff

Embed: Take a positive action

• Displays and activities• Support a charity• Campaign• Everyday life

Share

Other schools

Parents

Other members of staff

The wider community

The resource pack

Why get involved?• Make your school a happier school

• Meet OfSTED requirements to promote equality and diversity

• Address Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED)

• Develop community cohesion work within the school

• Increase the student voice and promote active citizenship

• Strengthen the school’s role in the community• Provide learning opportunities around asylum issues, human

rights and social justice

How can I get involved?• Visit our website - www.cityofsanctuary.org/schools• Read the resource pack and share with your colleagues and

head-teacher• Contact your local school of sanctuary group for information

and support.• Meet the 3 principles, Learn, Embed and Share – follow our

suggestions or carry out activities of your own.• Submit evidence that you have met the principles.• Be presented with an official School of Sanctuary certificate.

We have 7 awarded Schools of Sanctuary in Leeds and 5 schools working to achieve the award. Over 15 are supportive but are not on the award scheme

Nationally we have 20 schools and 2 colleges awarded, 29 others working towards it

Inspiring Sweden

International Leeds Welcome party

Swedish workbook in English

Swedish guests visit 2 Schools of Sanctuary and get a Swedish interpreter

The Future For Schools of Sanctuary

• More Schools involved• Partnership work with Oxfam

Young Ambassadors groups• National schools discussion group• Promote Schools of Sanctuary to

City of Sanctuary groups in UK and at national school seminars or conferences

• Host a National Schools of Sanctuary conference

• Make schools a happy place for ALL children!

What can a School of Sanctuary Do? –Lawnswood School?