Salford City Council was awarded the City of Sanctuary status on 20 March 2023.
We are proud to be recognised by the City of Sanctuary UK as a local authority of sanctuary that demonstrates a commitment to creating a culture of solidarity, inclusivity and welcome for sanctuary seekers.
We earned this award by working closely with our voluntary and community partners in the city and statutory services in particular Salford Forum for Refugees and People Seeking Asylum and the City of Sanctuary steering group.
Learn about sanctuary issues
There are many up-to-date resources available to help people understand the facts regarding asylum and immigration. Please see some useful links below.
- Facts about refugees and asylum seekers - Red Cross
- Refugees and asylum seekers - Red Cross
- Activities to help young people understand migration - Red Cross
- City of Sanctuary UK training
- Working supportively with refugees - Future Learn
- Facts about refugees - Refugee Action
- Refugee Council
- Engaging and connecting with refugees and asylum seekers - Manchester Metropolitan University
- Training by Manchester Refugee Support Network
- Training by Refugee Education UK
- Childhood Trauma, War, Migration and Asylum - UK Trauma Council - Free evidence based resources to help children and young people affected by war, migration and asylum as well as the professionals supporting them in both educational and community settings. The resources have been co-produced with young people with lived experience of seeking asylum and those who support them.
Salford City of Sanctuary Steering Group
A Salford City of Sanctuary steering group was established in 2019, chaired by a council employee but attended by different voluntary and statutory partners across the city, including, health, education, and housing. There are people with lived experience who regularly attend the meetings. Membership of the steering group is open to any individual, service or organisation that wants to help to improve equity of access to support for all sanctuary seekers and raise the voice of people with lived experience.
The steering group has developed a 3-year action plan with key priorities which is in addition to the priorities set out in the corporate Equality Strategy. Governance of the COS action plan sits within the Equalities team.