St. Augustine's Centre Halifax

28/08/2026

We’re delighted to be one of the first pilot hubs of this fantastic programme that’s helping people access affordable transport, learn new skills, and build confidence within our community. 🎉🚲

Thank you British Cycling and Lloyds Bank for your support! 🧡

27/08/2026

“British people have a big heart.” 🧡

For Ibrahim*, one of the most important things about finding safety in the UK has been the kindness and respect he has experienced from the people around him.

Sadly, not everyone seeking sanctuary in the UK experiences that same kindness and respect. Many people face hostility and misunderstanding, which can make an already difficult transition much more difficult.

Please take a few minutes to listen to Ibrahim's testimony.

Thank you to Cath, Ffion and Jo Kennedy Sound for helping us gather and record these testimonies, to everyone who supported with translation and voice recordings, and most importantly, to the Centre Members who generously shared their experiences.

📸 Matt Radcliffe Photography

If you'd like to support St Augustine's Centre and the people we work alongside, you can donate via the link in our bio.

*Name changed to protect privacy and safety.

HOPE not hate

27/08/2026

For people seeking sanctuary, starting a new life in a new place can be incredibly difficult and lonely. Being torn away from your home and placed in an unfamiliar place can be very isolating. This has a real impact on mental and physical wellbeing.

We offer a range of active and holistic activities to support people’s wellbeing and help them feel more connected. Walk and Talk is one of these.

Once a month, Centre Members head out into the Calderdale countryside, giving people the chance to get some fresh air and spend time together away from the Centre.

And it’s making a difference. Our Walk and Talk community has grown to more than 80 members!

Members tell us the walks help them:
🌱 Get outside, enjoy nature and discover more of the local area
🤝 Make friends and meet people from different backgrounds
🗣️ Practise English
🧠 Take time to relax and clear their minds

As one Centre Member put it:
“It is a relief to feel that you are not alone.”

Sometimes, wellbeing support doesn’t need to be complicated.

A big thanks to Active Calderdale The National Lottery and our Walk and Talk volunteers.

To help us continue providing support to people seeking sanctuary, including activities like Walk and Talk, please consider donating.

You can make a one-off or monthly donation using the link in our bio. 🧡🔗

24/08/2026

St Augustine's Centre will be closed this week.🧡

We'll reopen on Tuesday 1 September 2026 and look forward to welcoming everyone back then.

📦 If you'd like to bring in donations, please hold onto them until we're back open and bring them in from 1 Sept onwards.

Until then, we wish all our members, volunteers, supporters and friends a lovely week ahead. Take care! 🌟

19/08/2026

Today is

Humanitarian action isn't only something that happens in emergencies. It happens every time someone offers a welcome, shares a meal, listens without judgement, stands up for a neighbour, or helps someone find safety and belonging.

At St Augustine's Centre, we are inspired every day by the resilience and generosity of our Centre Members and volunteers.

Together, we are building a community where people seeking sanctuary are not seen as strangers, but as friends, colleagues, neighbours and leaders.

Thank you to everyone who chooses compassion, solidarity and hope. You are helping to make Calderdale a kinder place for us all. 🧡

19/08/2026

Our friends at Calderdale Valley of Sanctuary are recruiting a new Director! 🧡

Deadline for applications: Monday, 14th September 2026 Noon

Please share this opportunity!

Our director Tina is leaving Calderdale Valley of Sanctuary for personal reasons, and we are now recruiting a new Director.

💸Salary: £35,360 FTE (£21,216 pro rata)
📃Contract: Start date ASAP. End date November 30th 2028 (extended subject to further funding)
⏱Working hours: 21 hours per week
💼Pension: 5% employer contribution
⌛Deadline for applications: Monday, 14th September 2026 Noon

Please find more details and how to apply by visiting our website: https://calderdale.cityofsanctuary.org/

Please share this opportunity with anyone you know who is qualified!

18/08/2026

Wow, Seeds of Hope... what a beautiful, collaborative project this has been. ✨🌱

Our gardening team and Centre members have worked together to create a garden inspired by themes of journey, safety, belonging and community for the Seeds of Hope initiative. This weekend, our garden joined many other incredible displays from local organisations at Shibden Park and it was clear how much creativity and dedication had gone into this inspiring project. Our team visited the exhibition and were absolutely blown away by each and every garden.

A huge thank you to our gardening team and Centre Members who brought the St Augustine's garden to life.

We're also incredibly grateful to Stage at the Lake CultureDale Calderdale Council Community Foundation for Calderdale West Yorkshire Combined Authority and UNESCO for inviting us to be part of such a wonderful initiative. We hope everyone who visited had as much of a wonderful time as we did!

🌿🧡

17/08/2026

At our Open Day, we shared testimonies from Centre Members about their experiences of seeking asylum in the UK.

Please take a moment to listen to Karzan’s* testimony.

Every person seeking sanctuary has their own story, challenges and hopes for the future. By listening, we can better understand the realities faced by those forced to leave their homes in search of safety.

Thank you to Cath, Ffion and Jo Kennedy Sound for helping gather and record these testimonies, to everyone who supported with translation and voice recordings, and to the Centre Members who generously shared their experiences. 🧡

📸 Photos by the talented Matt Radcliffe Photography

Stories like this remind us why our work matters. If you’d like to support our work, please consider making a donation. Link in bio.

Thank you for listening. 🧡

*To protect privacy and safety, names have been changed.

City of Sanctuary Calderdale Valley of Sanctuary Freedom from Torture Refugee Action Migration Yorkshire

12/08/2026

Are you a finance professional looking to use your expertise for a cause that matters? Could your expertise help change lives? ⭐

If you have experience in accountancy, finance, audit, governance or company secretarial work, you could be the next Trustee Treasurer (Volunteer) at St Augustine's Centre.📊

Join a welcoming, ambitious charity supporting and in Calderdale, and help ensure we remain financially strong and well governed for the future.

⭐ Volunteer Trustee Treasurer
⭐ Around 8 hours per month
⭐ Previous trustee experience not essential
⭐ A chance to make a real difference

Find out more, link in comments below and in our bio 🔗

12/08/2026

🌱 A sneak peek at St Augustine's Seeds of Hope garden! 🌱

The gardens open tomorrow at Stage at the Lake in Shibden Park, and we can't wait for people to see what our gardening team and Centre Members have created.

Our garden is inspired by themes of journey, safety, belonging and community - bringing together the creativity and experiences of the people connected to St Augustine’s. 🧡

Come and visit from tomorrow (13th-16th August) and explore all the incredible gardens on display!

Community Foundation for Calderdale Calderdale Council West Yorkshire Combined Authority UNESCO