‘Huddersfield is an enriched community, a more vibrant, and a better place because of the sanctuary seekers and refugees who live here’said Bill Dennis manager of Kirklees Asylum Support Service at the Autumn Gathering and AGM of Huddersfield Town of Sanctuary, held on 8th October.

Opening the event, Councillor Eric Firth, Mayor of Kirklees said ‘I am really pleased to see how support has grown so rapidly for this positive new initiative in our town. Even though Huddersfield Town of Sanctuary was only launched in June last year it already has nearly 70 supporting organisations representing a real cross section of groups.’

Huddersfield is the first Town of Sanctuary in the UK, and the group is part of a national network of towns and cities who are encouraging a culture of welcome in our communities for people fleeing war and persecution.

‘This dynamic local movement is building on the long tradition in Huddersfield of welcoming, supporting and befriending people from different countries and backgrounds’ said James Bar Bowen, outgoing Chair of Town of Sanctuary, ‘We want people to feel safe and welcome in our town’.

Tiffy Allen national co-ordinator of the City of Sanctuary movement said, ’ Huddersfield is a dispersal point for refugees in the North of England. There are many myths about sanctuary seekers but the sanctuary movement aims to dispel some of these myths’.

Two co-chairs were elected at the AGM: Adam Strickson, writer and lecturer and Omid Hosseini, a sanctuary seeker from Iran.

Adam Strickson said ‘We celebrate the diverse community that is Huddersfield and the amazing work that is currently done by organisations supporting sanctuary seekers and refugees. It is great to hear about what is being done in our town to create a welcome by the many different organisations and cultures that make Huddersfield such a wonderful place to live in’.

Huddersfield Pakistani Community Alliance in Thornton Lodge has signed up as the 50th member of the dynamic local initiative known as ‘Huddersfield Town of Sanctuary’. Huddersfield Town of Sanctuary, which is run by local volunteers, helps to make the town a welcoming place for people seeking sanctuary from war and persecution. In just seven months, local organisations have shown just how enthusiastic they are about putting this into action.

Town of Sanctuary Chair Ann Bettys said, ‘This is fantastic news for us. We have all sorts of organisations – from allotment associations to sports clubs – promising to involve people seeking sanctuary in their activities. The Pakistani Community Alliance, which does great work with people of all ages, is just the sort of organisation we want to see involved.’

Mumtaz Ali, Manager of HPCA, said ‘We feel proud and privileged to be part of the Huddersfield Town of Sanctuary as an organisation representing an ethnic minority. We know what’s involved when someone makes that journey from their home country and what a difficult decision this is. For someone who has nothing, sitting down for a chat over a cup of tea can stay with them for ever.’

Supporters of Huddersfield Town of Sanctuary will celebrate this important milestone at an international family ceilidh at Greenhead College on March 19th, 4.30- 8.30pm. With delicious international food, dance, music, song, mask making, facepainting and balloon modelling there will be something for everyone. Tickets are available from Huddersfield Methodist Mission or by calling 0798 2079451, for £5 in advance (includes free food). Entry is free for Under 16s and people seeking sanctuary / refugees. Entry is £6 on the night.

It is less than a year since the first meeting at the Methodist Mission to see if there was enough support to set up Huddersfield Town of Sanctuary. We have done a great deal in that time. We have a very good steering group, with people bringing their skills and enthusiasm and hard work together to make people in Huddersfield more aware of sanctuary seekers and refugees in our communities. There are people who are used to working with the media, planning events, looking after the money, working with sanctuary seekers. From a personal point of view meeting and becoming friends with people seeking sanctuary has made a huge difference to how I see my own life as I get to know more about theirs. (read more by clicking on the title above)

Radio Leeds broadcast a live interview on Sunday 20 June with Ann Bettys, Richard Byrne and Mani Dana, a sanctuary seeker from Iran. They were there to talk about the work of Huddersfield Town of Sanctuary and the official launch in particular.