City of Sanctuary

Sheffield News

Congratulations to ASSIST eleven!

Submitted by Sarah on Thu, 13/10/2011 - 09:47

They did it! On Sunday, ASSIST’s team of runners crossed the finishing line of the Great Yorkshire Run.

It might have been the zingy t-shirts, or maybe the powerade – but those guys are fast. Sam H ran his 10k in an stunning 43 minutes and Rachel was first for the girls at 57. But everyone came in with excellent times, including some personal bests. It was a brilliant team effort, and they were still smiling at the end!

The team are well on target to raise £2,000 for ASSIST, from personal donations and those sent to JustGiving/s website, where you can still add your own contribution here.

Barclays to double your money for ASSIST

Submitted by Sarah on Fri, 30/09/2011 - 07:48

A group of volunteer fund-raisers have received a welcome boost from Barclays Bank which has pledged to match every penny they raise for ASSIST. The athletes, who’re taking part in the Great Yorkshire Run in Sheffield on Sunday October 9th are hoping to raise more than £500 for the local charity that helps destitute asylum seekers.

The team of volunteers, refugees, asylum seekers and friends come from seven countries and speak a total of 12 languages. Some of them have been prompted to attempt the 10km run by having benefited themselves from the work of ASSIST.

To find out more about the ASSIST Runners – including updates on how our training is progressing – or to sponsor the team please visit www.justgiving.com/assist-runners or contact us at assistrunners@gmail.com. For more information on ASSIST Sheffield, please visit http://www.assistsheffield.org.uk/.

Clegg concern over monitoring returns

Submitted by Sarah on Tue, 30/08/2011 - 11:21

The Deputy Prime Minister and Sheffield Hallam MP Nick Clegg has said he would be concerned if the UK did not monitor what happened to refused asylum seekers after they have been deported. He was commenting during a meeting with City of Sanctuary and other refugee support organisations in Sheffield.
Mr Clegg said he would be interested to see an upcoming report about the alleged mistreatment of a number of asylum seekers returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Responding to earlier concerns about monitoring the Immigration Minister Damien Green wrote that the UK was ‘under no obligation to monitor the treatment of individual failed asylum seekers who return to their country of origin.’ He added that this should not be interpreted as disinterest and if the UK Border Agency received specific allegations of ill-treatment they would be investigated by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

City of Sanctuary's first Awayday

Submitted by Sarah on Fri, 29/07/2011 - 11:51

More than 50 representatives from City of Sanctuary groups all over the country got together in a beautiful Pennine setting for the movement’s first ever national ‘Awayday’.

During the course of 24 hours we heard about all the different ways people are putting the City of Sanctuary ethos into practice according to specific local circumstances –

Roma dancers launch Refugee Week

Submitted by Sarah on Mon, 20/06/2011 - 21:23

Refugee Week has got off to a colourful start with a celebration featuring local Romano Jilo Dance Group. The event, in Burngreave Welcome Centre was attended by about a hundred people from a range of Sheffield’s many cultures, and was opened by Councillor Mike Rooney, Sheffield Council cabinet member with responsibility for communities.

World Refugee Day and beyond

Submitted by Sarah on Mon, 20/06/2011 - 09:09

From World Refugee Day on June 20th through to the end of August people in Sheffield will be staging a number of events to highlight the situation of refugees and celebrate all they bring to the city.

Starting with a launch event in Burngreave on Monday June 20th, moving on to the annual ASSIST World Over concert in Sheffield Cathedral on Saturday 25th, you can take part in a range of activities including music, drama and country walks.

Star editorial praises Gleadless event

Submitted by Sarah on Thu, 26/05/2011 - 10:21

Gleadless residents pulled together to lay on their second “Community Social” attracting approval from the Star newspaper, whose editorial described it as “a tremendous effort (that) will go a long way towards building closer understanding among people who have made the estate their home”.

The event, organised by City of Sanctuary and Gleadless Valley forum, and funded by the Community Assembly, brought together people from the many different cultures living in the area for a celebration of food and conversation.

More help for torture survivors around Sheffield

Submitted by Sarah on Wed, 18/05/2011 - 17:05

Yorkshire is back in the frame to have a dedicated worker to assist victims of torture. The announcement was made by Keith Best, Chief Executive of the national torture care organisation the Medical Foundation (pictured here with Jim Steinke and David Price, chair and vice-chair of SYMAAG), speaking at the AGM of the South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group (SYMAAG).

Keith Best was in Sheffield to meet local supporters of the Medical Foundation, which is in the process of changing its name to Freedom from Torture. He also had meetings with health professionals at the Mulberry Clinic, as well as addressing the AGM. He made both announcements to a gathering of about 70 people, saying the new post would be possible following a successful application for European funding.

A Quiet Space for Refugees?

Submitted by Sarah on Sun, 15/05/2011 - 14:34

An international movement that creates gardens as places of sanctuary is looking for a partner to host a site for the use of asylum seekers in Sheffield. The Quiet Garden Movement was launched in 1992 to provide a network of local opportunities where people can retreat and reflect in solitude. More than 300 ‘Quiet Gardens’ now exist in countries from Kenya to Brazil, Australia to Finland, as well as most counties in the UK. The movement’s founder, Philip Roderick, now lives in Sheffield, where he’d like to create a garden specifically for people who’re seeking asylum.

£10 a mile for asylum

Submitted by Sarah on Mon, 09/05/2011 - 21:05

Sheffield solicitor Carita Thomas shows her appreciation to all who supported her
60 kilometre walk for two local asylum charities. Her total sponsorship of more than £500 means that along with Rachel (see below) and four local medics they’ll have raised well on the way to £1,000 for ASSIST. Well walked Carita!

Summer of Sanctuary

With grateful thanks to our funders…

Evan Cornish Foundation
Church Urban Fund

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