New initiative for Sandwell to become 'borough of sanctuary'

A collaboration between a number of refugee and community services in Sandwell is aiming to get official recognition for the region as a borough of sanctuary.

The initiative is part of City of Sanctuary UK, an umbrella organisation for a network of groups which offer a culture of welcome and hospitality for people seeking safety.

It has seen towns and cities in the region such as Stafford, Walsall and Wolverhampton become places of sanctuary, alongside boroughs of sanctuary in the region such as Shropshire.

The project group will be officially launching the project at 9am on Saturday, June 20 on the Sandwell Borough of Sanctuary website as part of World Refugee day.

Dave Newell, project manager of Brushstrokes in Smethwick, has been one of the lead figures behind the project to get Sandwell recognised as a borough of sanctuary.

He said: "For us, it's about celebrating and promoting activity and information awareness of sanctuary needs in the borough.

"It will also showcase the positive contributions that refugees and asylum seekers have made to the region, particularly as part of the community in Sandwell.

"The day job at Brushstrokes allows me to work with refugees and asylum seekers on a regular basis, so I'm really keen to see the borough officially recognised."

Bearwood Action for Refugees are another of the organisations involved in the project, with founder Leonie Hart keen to talk about the significance of Sandwell becoming a borough of sanctuary.

She said: "There's a lot of work already going on in this area to support refugees and asylum seekers by organisations such as Brushstrokes and Action for Refugees.

"There's a lot of other groups working towards the same goal, so it's all about connecting the dots and bringing everyone together under one banner.

"By being recognised as a borough of sanctuary, we can help organisations to adopt this welcoming principle into their practices."

The initiative has also received council support, with Ahmad Bostan, Councillor for Abbey Ward, speaking about what borough of sanctuary would mean to him.

He said: "It would mean a huge amount not just for me, but for everyone who cares about humanity, and who cares about opening those doors to people who are fleeing the most horrific situations.

"We've got a hugely generous community in Sandwell that does a huge amount to help people who are in need, and really being a place of welcome is something we've naturally done for many years."

To find out more, go to sandwell.cityofsanctuary.org