School of Sanctuary

We are thrilled to inform you that we have signed the organisational pledge to become a School of Sanctuary. As signing the pledge is one of the eight minimum criteria, that we are now well on our way to achieve this status. Local Lead in Newcastle who is also covering schools in Gateshead for now, along with the Gateshead City of Sanctuary Team, so that they’ve got a note of you having signed the pledge and so you can follow up with them for next steps about the award process.

What is the principle behind coming a School of Sanctuary?

Principle: Offer a positive vision of a culture of welcome and hospitality to all

Minimum Criteria:

• Make a public commitment to the City of Sanctuary vision through

endorsing the charter, becoming a supporting organisation and signing the

local group pledge where relevant

• A dedicated member of staff/team member as a contact point for

sanctuary queries/people seeking sanctuary. This should be clearly

1 A ‘Stream of Sanctuary’ encourages professionals or practitioners within communities of practice or interest to come to together to embed the concepts of welcome, safety and inclusion within their profession, sector and organisations

communicated and be easily accessible and the individual(s) must be appropriately trained.

LEARN

Principle: Promote understanding of asylum and refugee issues, especially by

enabling sanctuary seekers voices to be heard directly

Minimum criteria: Demonstrate a whole organisation approach to staff

awareness including involving people seeking sanctuary in training and wider

awareness-raising

EMBED

Principle: Engage people seeking sanctuary in decision making processes at all

levels and in all activities

Minimum criteria: Wherever possible ensure that people seeking sanctuary are

involved in the development of your plans and action and on relevant committees

Principle: Create opportunities for relationships of friendship and solidarity

between local people and those seeking sanctuary

Minimum Criteria: Demonstrate active engagement with refugee support

networks and others in the local community and, where relevant, create

opportunities for people to come together

Principle: Identify opportunities for practical action and working on common

cause issues to effect change within and across communities

Minimum Criteria: Demonstrate active involvement with your local City of

Sanctuary group and/or other refugee support networks

Minimum Criteria: Where appropriate support relevant campaigns and work to

minimise barriers to people seeking sanctuary accessing your services

SHARE

Principle: Celebrate and promote the welcome and contribution of people

seeking sanctuary

Minimum criteria: Use your website, social media or other channels to celebrate

your sanctuary initiatives and commitment to a culture of welcome

Principle: Recognise and encourage partnership working and network

development across localities

Minimum Criteria: Demonstrate a commitment to sharing learning with other

similar organisations in your area and around the world.