We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported City of Sanctuary this year. You have achieved a lot! With partners throughout the city we hope we have helped make everyone feel a bit more welcome and fulfilled. Let's see what we can do in 2010!

Seasonal greetings from Sarah, Dan and all the committee.

In this last newsletter of 2009:

• City of Sanctuary Party - Friday 5th February 2010
• Controversial French film on asylum
• Call for articles on disability and displacement
• Art on the Run

City of Sanctuary Party - Friday 5th February 2010

To celebrate all the progress made in the last year towards making Sheffield a more welcoming place, we're holding a party on Friday 5th February 2010, at the Crescent Community Centre in Burngreave. All are welcome, particularly those seeking sanctuary in Sheffield. More details will be forthcoming in the new year, but given the success of last years event we are expecting something pretty special. Watch this space.

 Controversial French film on asylum

In January the Showroom Cinema in Sheffield is showing a controversial French film which outraged the French Minister for Immigration when it was released in France earlier in 2009. It tells the story of a Kurdish teenager who is trained by a French swimming instructor to swim across the Channel.

Showroom plan to show it at 6.10pm on Friday 1 Jan, 1.00pm on Sat 2 Jan, 3.35pm on Sunday 3 Jan, 8.50pm on Monday 4 Jan, 8.50pm on Tuesday 5 Jan, 8.50pm on Wed 6 Jan and 6.10pm on Thursday 7 Jan.

After the showing at 6.10pm on Thursday 7 January, SYMAAG is organising a discussion of the film in Screen 5 from 8pm to 9pm.

A veritable feast of events for your enjoyment over the next week:

• Karen New Year Celebration - Sat Dec 12th 11am
• Carol Concert in aid of ASSIST - Saturday Dec 12th 7:30pm
• The Mid-Winter Folk and Feast - Saturday Dec 12th 7:30pm
• Northern Refugee Centre AGM - Weds Dec 16th 5:30pm
• Moving to Mars Screening - Fri Dec 18th 1pm
• ASSIST Carol Service - Friday Dec 18th 7.30pm

Karen New Year Celebration - Sat Dec 12th 11am-2pm

Karen Community Association-UK would like to invite you to the celebration of Karen New Year 2749 (2010) on Saturday 12th December from 11am to 2pm, at the Abbeydale Grange School, Hasting Road, Sheffield.

Carol Concert - Saturday Dec 12th 7:30pm

At Holy Trinity, Grove Rd, Millhouses, with songs from the Sterndale Singers,Mince Pies and Wine. Proceeds to ASSIST (www.assistsheffield.org.uk)

The Mid-Winter Folk and Feast - Saturday Dec 12th 7:30pm

At the Broomhall Centre, with live music from Maybe Myrtle Turtle, the Sicknotes, The Free Roaming Folk band and Carl Woodford, plus a two course meal and fully licensed bar, all for the bargain price of £6 a ticket.
Proceeds to ASSIST, for more info email celiashantidavis@hotmail.com

Northern Refugee Centre Annual General Meeting 2009

Wednesday 16 December 2009, held at the Circle Building on Rockingham Lane, Sheffield, S1 4FW. Arrival is from 5pm, with the formal AGM business starting at 5.30pm, followed by presentations from staff. The event is planned to finish at 7.30pm. For more information or to register your attendance, please email kat.cousins@nrcentre.org.uk

A quick notice of a new campaign and events to mark Human Rights Day this Thursday. A summary of events over the christmas period will follow later in the week.

Send a Christmas Card to stop Detention of Children

Each family sends an average of 76 Christmas cards each year. This year send One More Card to help stop the immigration detention of children in the UK.

Send an extra Christmas card to Immigration Minister, Phil Woolas MP, and let him know that your Christmas wish is for him to stop the practice of detaining children for immigration purposes.

More than 1,000 children a year are kept in immigration detention. Research has shown that detention causes significant mental and physical harm to children.

• Keep the Christmas card positive.

• Wish Mr Woolas a Merry Christmas then ask him (in your own words) to end the practice of detaining children and families for immigration purposes.

• Include your name and address (and your organisation if you are writing on behalf of one).

• Send your card to: PHIL WOOLAS MP, HOME OFFICE, 2 MARSHAM STREET, LONDON SW1P 4DF.

• Encourage members of your family, your church, your friends and your work colleagues to send one more card too.

For more info see: http://www.jointpublicissues.org.uk/childrenindetention/jpitonemorecard.htm

Celebrate Human Rights Day in Sheffield

Thursday 10th of December is International Human Rights Day. As part of celebrations going on across the globe, a coalition of Sheffield organisations are holding two main public events.

At 12:30pm, a Rally in front of the City Hall (Barkers Pool). With readings, Street Theatre etc. Please being banners, placards etc. A photographer from the Sheffield Star will be in attendance.

Follwoing swiftly up on the last one, there just so much info and news we can treat you to a special bonus edition of the newsletter this week, featuring:

• Sheffield scores a century
• Moving to Mars Special Screening
• Langage Exchange
• BBC My Story - Deadline

Sheffield Scores a Century

Sheffield Homes has become the 100th organisation to sign up to the City of Sanctuary movement in Sheffield. The event was marked at a special ceremony where Sheffield Homes signed a large-scale pledge, and City of Sanctuary Chair Inderjit Bhogal presented Sheffield Homes with a framed certificate of congratulations. More info here: http://www.cityofsanctuary.org/node/508

Moving to Mars - screening and discussion

If you missed the premier of this film about Gateway refugees coming from Burma (via Thailand refugee camp) to Sheffield, and/or would like a further opportunity to watch and discuss it more fully, please join us at the Showroom Cinema on Friday December 18th, from 1pm.

We will have a sandwich lunch before watching the City of Sanctuary film (9mins) followed by "Moving to Mars" (83mins). After that we will ask for your reactions to the film and discuss any gaps, implications etc. with the aim of writing a contextual report which we will publish on the City of Sanctuary (indeed any other willing) website.

The film is due to be broadcast by Channel 4 in January and we would like this material to be available by the time of that and any other screenings of "Moving to Mars" so people have an opportunity to consider the film in the full context of migration and asylum.

*Sustainable Communities Panel - Recruiting Now*

Sheffield City Council is currently recruiting to the Sustainable Communities Panel. If you live, work or study in Sheffield you could join a team of people who work with the city council to make sure your thoughts and ideas are included in discussions about improving life in the city.

For more info see: http://www.cityofsanctuary.org/node/505

*Karen New Year Celebration - Sat Dec 12th 11am-2pm*

Karen Community Association-UK would like to invite you to the celebration of Karen New Year 2749 (2010) on Saturday 12th December from 11am to 2pm, at the Abbeydale Grange School, Hasting Road, Sheffield.

The Karen are an ethnic group of Burma who have been persecuted by Burmese military dictatorship for decades. Currently, there are around 500 Karen people living in the United Kingdom and most of them live in Sheffield. In Britain, they have been celebrating Karen New Year for several years and this is the fifth time it is taking place in Sheffield. For more info call: Htoo Ku 07940522425, Eh Htee Kaw 07861786539, Win Cho 07886335142

*Carol Concert - Saturday Dec 12th 7:30pm*

At Holy Trinity, Grove Rd, Millhouses, with songs from the Sterndale Singers, Mince Pies and Wine. Proceeds to ASSIST (www.assistsheffield.org.uk)

*The Mid-Winter Folk and Feast - Saturday Dec 12th 7:30pm*

At the Broomhall Centre, with live music from Maybe Myrtle Turtle, the Sicknotes, The Free Roaming Folk band and Carl Woodford, plus a two course meal and fully licensed bar, all for the bargain price of £6 a ticket. Proceeds to ASSIST, for more info email celiashantidavis@hotmail.com

Four events coming up over the next week, and more to follow soon:

*Connecting Communities in 21st Century*
Friday 20th November - Sorby House, Spital Hill - 6pm

-Chair Bishop of Sheffield
-Guest Speaker Humera Khan - 'one of the most important Muslim voices speaking and writing in Britain today. Founder of the pioneering An-Nisa Society in Wembley, she has been an activist and educator for over 20 years'

*Conversation Club AGM*
Friday 27th November - CURC, Norfolk St - 2.30pm

2009 Annual General Meeting of Conversation Club, including food and social. Conversation Club itself will start as usual at 1pm prior to the AGM. All are welcome.

*CDAS Benefit*
Friday 27th November - Cafe Euro, John Street - 7.30pm
Entrance: £5 adv / £6.50 on the door / £4 conc.

Come and help raise money for Sheffield Committee to Defend Asylum Seekers (CDAS). Performances from Na Zdrove House Band, Flamingo Love Parade, Little Robots and Ric Booth. Tickets Available from Cafe Euro (John Street),
the Rude Shipyard (Abbeydale Rd), Rare and Racy (Devonshire Street), and New Roots-Ashram (Spital Hill).

*No to Deportations and Destitution demo*
Saturday 28th November - Town Hall, Sheffield - 11am

Asylum seekers in South Yorkshire are facing threats such as: forcible deportation to face certain danger in Zimbabawe, Afghanistan and Iraq; forced into destitution because they are not allowed to work and have benefits withdrawn; benefits being cut by £7 to £35 a week; being forced to travel the length of the country to make a claim for asylum.

Coming up to Christmas, a demonstration to show that the people of South Yorkshire stand in solidarity with those seeking asylum from war, persecution and torture.

Contact SYMAAG at dignitynotdetention@yahoo.co.uk for more information.

*Mosque Open Days*

As part of Islam Awareness and Interfaith Week, two local mosques will be holding open days.

On Tuesday 17th November, the Madina Mosque, Wolesley Road, S8 0ZU, will be open from 10am to 4pm, while on Wednesday 18th the Muslim Welfare House, 10 Severn Road, S10 2SU, will be accepting visitors from 12pm to 7pm. Both events will included guided tours, food, displays, discussions and much more. For more information see interfaithweek.wordpress.com

*Spiers and Boden - Tuesday 17th November, 8pm - Library Theatre*

Tickets £10/8

Described by the Guardian as "the finest instrumental duo on the traditional
scene" and twice winners of the BBC Radio 2 folk award for best live duo, Spiers
and Boden bring their amazing show to Sheffield in aid of ASSIST, a local
charity supporting destitute Asylum Seekers.

Advance tickets are available at www.wegottickets.com/event/59974 or by emailing assist_efa@hotmail.co.uk 

*City of Sanctuary - the Film*

A new short film tells the story of City of Sanctuary so far, and shows some of
the local groups that are helping to build a culture of welcome and hospitality:

www.cityofsanctuary.org/film

We want as many people as possible to see this film, all over the UK. If
you enjoy it, please share it with your friends and contacts by sending
them this link.

City of Sanctuary is a movement to make our towns and cities welcoming places for people seeking sanctuary in the UK.

A new short film tells the story of City of Sanctuary so far, and shows some of the local groups that are helping to build a culture of welcome and hospitality:

www.cityofsanctuary.org/film

We want as many people as possible to see this film, all over the UK. If you enjoy it, please share it with your friends and contacts by sending them this link.

Thank you to all friends and supporters who attended City of Sanctuary's AGM at the Ethio Cubana restaurant. We shared excellent food and conversation and we hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did!

We are now working on bringing together all your suggestions from this and our Ideas Day in September.

A common suggestion emanating from our discussion was that we should all spend the next year trying to make City of Sanctuary's welcome message mean something in our lives. So here's your challenge: can you think of one action you or your organisation could do to contribute to developing this culture of hospitality.

Examples put forward at the meeting were:

* recommend to a local school, community centre or residents association that they invite someone to talk about sanctuary

* invite a refugee for a meal at your home or place of worship

* invite refugees to join your club or other activity

While thinking about this we would urge you to consider all people who might feel marginalised for whatever reason - promoting a culture of hospitality to one group should not leave others feeling excluded!

Don't forget to tell us what you're doing - by emailing dan@cityofsanctuary.org or sarah@cityofsanctuary.org

Thanks

Sarah Eldridge
City of Sanctuary
Tel: 07807 342157
Building a culture of hospitality for people seeking sanctuary in the UK
www.cityofsanctuary.org

*Inspirational Ideas for Sanctuary*

At our Ideas Day in September we asked for your ideas about how we could make Sheffield an even more welcoming and hospitable place for people seeking sanctuary. A number of these ideas have now been added to the inspiration page on the City of Sanctuary website. Take a look now,  then let us know what you think or an idea of your own: www.cityofsanctuary.org/inspiration

*Poverty and Inequality in Sheffield and the UK*

Exhibition organised by Church Action on Poverty, showing areas of deprivation and low and high life expectancy in Sheffield, levels of inequality in the UK and information about anti-poverty campaigns, including action to help asylum seekers.

In the foyer of the Central Library in Surrey Street, Sheffield, from Monday 2 November to Saturday 7 November.

*Spiers and Boden - Tuesday 17th November, 8pm - Library Theatre*

Tickets £10/8

Described by the Guardian as "the finest instrumental duo on the traditional scene" and twice winners of the BBC Radio 2 folk award for best live duo, Spiers and Boden bring their amazing show to Sheffield in aid of ASSIST, a local charity supporting destitute Asylum Seekers.

Advance tickets are available at http://www.wegottickets.com/event/59974, or by emailing assist_efa@hotmail.co.uk

*Supporting refugee women survivors - Northern Refugee Centre and SOLACE workshop for advice services*

The workshop will be in Sheffield, Scotia Works, Friday 20th of November 10 - 4pm.

The workshop's aims are:

To increase awareness of issues around refugee women and survivors of violence; To ensure advice services provide equal access to refugee and asylum seeking women who are survivors of violence; To enable advice service participants from different organisations to share good practice on how to respond appropriately.