Bristol City of Sanctuary Newsletter Feb 2024

Dear Friends, We hope that you have had a great start to the new year. Bristol City of Sanctuary has exciting plans for 2024, all aimed to continue our work towards creating a culture of welcome and inclusion for people seeking sanctuary in Bristol. We look forward to your continued support. It means the world to us!  Since our last newsletter, we have been busy and here is a summary of our main activities:

Ken Loach’s ‘The Old Oak’ Screening It took place on January 17th at the Watershed. Ken Loach very generously gave us the rights for this, his latest film, and we organised the screening in association with Bristol Defend the Asylum Seekers Campaign (BADSC) who also kindly agreed to pay the distribution fee. The Watershed also generously offered the big theatre for free, which meant that all the proceeds (£1600) went directly to the Transport Fund. Sadly, Ken Loach could not attend because of ill health but sent a message that was read out before the screening. We are very grateful to Ken, the Watershed and BADSC, for all their support.

Be Kind Bristol  We partnered with the Bristol Beacon on January 28th for a day of celebration of the creativity of asylum seekers and refugees. Some of our Schools of Sanctuary took part and there was music, dancing and other activities for the whole family during the day, including a novel Human Library. This allowed us to share experiences with individuals in 10 minute slots. It was a fascinating experience and we had many engaging conversations. In the evening, there was the world premiere of Odyssey, a new opera especially commissioned by the Beacon for the occasion. The composer was Jonathan Dove and it included the City of Bristol Chorus, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, two world class singers and the chorus of the City Academy and children from other Schools of Sanctuary.

Schools of Sanctuary The Schools of Sanctuary Project Coordinator has had a very successful start in her new role. We have 10 new schools going through the process this academic year and the ceremony and presentation of the Sanctuary Awards will take place in May. A special thank you to Ruth Pickersgill for her continued involvement.

Fair Begins Here.  We have also joined Bristol Defend the Asylum Seekers Campaign (BADSC) in a new campaign, Fair Begins Here, promoted by Together with Refugees and aimed at achieving a new, fairer deal for asylum seekers and refugees. This campaign was launched in Bristol and the South West on February 14thwith a letter to the Refugees and Asylum Seekers. It was signed by prominent people in the city. The letter can be found here.  The campaign aims to achieve  Protection for people fleeing war and persecution by upholding the UK’s commitment under international law to the right to claim asylum and by scrapping the Rwanda scheme.   A proper strategy for welcoming refugees by ensuring fair, rapid decisions on their application for asylum, and the chance to rebuild their lives through settling in a community, being allowed to work and the chance to learn English.  Stronger global cooperation to tackle the root causes that force people to flee their homes and provide positive solutions when they do, including through safe routes to refugee protection.     We will collaborate with Together with Refugees and encourage the public to lobby the authorities towards achieving these aims. You will be hearing more about this campaign in the future and we hope you will support it.

Memorial Garden Bristol City of Sanctuary has been involved with this project for many months. We are trying to create a space where Refugees and Asylum seekers can go to reflect on their many losses and remember people and places they have left behind. A sense of loss seems to be one of the reasons for mental health problems in this community. We have identified a place for this garden, the Quaker Burial Ground in Redcliff,and students from the School of Architecture have designed an excellent scheme, following consultation with representatives of asylum seekers and refugees. Unfortunately, we have discovered that the site may be used as a building yard for a neighbouring large development. We are opposing this by writing to the Councillors and Planning Department with our objections, but we may need to mount a larger objection, which will include support from members of the public. Using the site as a builders’ yard will prevent us from delivering our project and will desecrate a medieval graveyard of historic importance to the city. So, watch this space!

Bristol Reporting Solidarity (BRS) Needs Volunteers  Bristol Reporting Solidarity are a group that offers support and advice to Asylum Seekers and Migrants who are waiting for their claims to be assessed by the Home Office.  They are looking for volunteers to join their dedicated team on alternative Wednesday Mornings. If you have ever wondered how you could support Asylum Seekers and Migrants in a practical way - please consider volunteering.  Those seeking sanctuary are required by the Home Office to present themselves at Patchway Police Station on a regular basis (i.e. weekly or monthly). It can be a very stressful experience as it can provoke past traumas, and there is the threat of being detained, which mighty be the first step to being deported.  BRS are not legally trained, but can signpost people to access specific help with accommodation, legal advice, food and welfare issues. Offering a friendly and welcoming alternative to the ‘Hostile Environment’ narrative, they have provided this vital service for 15 years.  They are at Patchway police Station on Wednesdays from 9:30 to 2:00pm, with two shifts and always work in pairs. They offer key training and support to all their volunteers, have regular meetings and occasional socials! If you wish to volunteer and support those regularly reporting please contact saramethven a_t gmail d_o_t com

Gaza Conflict. Immediate Ceasefire Needed Urgently 

The conflict in Gaza has become a crisis of death and destruction played out in front of the eyes of the world. Following the atrocities of October 7, we have witnessed the forced displacement of the Palestinians to the South of Gaza, the destruction of their homes and towns and the killing of over 28,000 people, mostly women and children.The wounded are many more, and who knows how many more people will die without water, food and medical attention, as very little help has been allowed to reach the displaced Palestinians and most of the hospitals have been destroyed.

Things are getting even worse now, as Israeli troops have started to bomb Rafah, the city in the south of Gaza. This is a designated safe zone, where over one million Palestinians from the north have taken refuge at the orders of the Israeli government following their forced displacement. 

Amnesty International, Oxfam, Action Aid UK, plus 153 Nation States and increasing numbers of UK politicians have joined calls for a ceasefire. The Scottish National Party has tabled a motion demanding an immediate ceasefire. This will be discussed in Parliament next Wednesday, 22nd of February and we encourage you all to write to your MP asking them to vote for this motion. It is time for our government and all political parties to speak for peace with one voice.  

It may be of help to read this letter on Rafah and use the link to contact your MP.  It is written and signed by the UK Humanitarian and Human Rights Sector and addressed to the Prime Minister.
Letter Here.