Manchester City of Sanctuary

28/07/2026

We’ve given him the blueprint. But does he have the political will?

Proud to have signed Asylum Matters letter - along with 200+ organisations - calling on the PM to take a new approach to asylum rooted in evidence, not cruelty.

🔗 The letter has been reported on in The Mirror: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/burnham-asylum-refugees-shabana-mahmood-37471833

24/07/2026

"As people who have rebuilt our lives here after fleeing conflict and persecution, we ask you to show the compassionate leadership we know you are capable of." Please sign our housewarming card to the new Prime Minister! https://act.refugee-action.org.uk/page/195459/petition/1?ea.tracking.id=NewPMCard26S

23/07/2026

🗳️ At the Hustings: Speaking up for Sanctuary

This time last week, we attended the Greater Manchester Mayoral Hustings at Friends' Meeting House Manchester, and were thrilled that our question was one of just six selected from hundreds of submissions. That question was:

"A number of the Greater Manchester boroughs are now local authorities of Sanctuary, and have therefore demonstrated a commitment to supporting refugees and people seeking sanctuary. As Mayor, will you work with organisations like MCoS to build this movement further, and make GM a 'City Region of Sanctuary?'

The responses hit home how successful our movement has been, with our different campaigning priorities and overall reflected across all three candidates.

Here are some highlights:

🔴 Bev Craig for Greater Manchester Mayor, The Labour Party and Cooperative:

▪️Called for more ESOL provision, trauma support and better settlement services
▪️Supporting lifting the ban on people seeking sanctuary working
▪️Argued support systems after asylum status is granted need major improvement

🟢 Geraldine Coggins, Green Party of England and Wales:

▪️Fully supported Greater Manchester becoming a City Region of Sanctuary
▪️Called for faster asylum decisions, better accommodation and lifting the ban
▪️Advocated support for people with no recourse to public funds

🟠 Richard Kilpatrick, Liberal Democrats:

▪️Strongly endorsed City Region of Sanctuary status
▪️Criticised barriers that prevent people seeking sanctuary accessing services
▪️Supported lifting the ban

Leaders come and go. But our movement of welcome is here to stay. Whoever is Mayor, we look forward to working with you to strengthen this movement further. 🤝

23/07/2026

20/07/2026

Hey Andy!

Every day we see local authorities, schools, universities, museums and more across Greater Manchester joining our movement of welcome.

We know a different future is possible. For too long refugees have been unfairly blamed for wider social and economic challenges.

Now is the time to draw a clear line under this approach.

Today we joined 218 other organisations to call for the end to hostile politics and focus on what unites us - to build hope, humanity, and common ground.

Together With Refugees

21/06/2026

📸 In Pictures: our ! 🧡

🪩 Manchester Refugee Support Network - MRSN’s ‘Night of Musical Solidarity’ at The Carlton Club
🗣️ Refugee Action’s ‘Locked Out and Locked Up’ panel discussion at HOME Mcr
💭 Human Rights Solidarity’s Future Forum at Friends' Meeting House Manchester
🎓 The University of Manchester’s ‘A University of Sanctuary Explored’
🎥 SUMAR's ‘Sudan, Remember Us’ screening at Stockport Labour Club
🎶 The wonderful WAST Manchester choir Levenshulme Old Library!

What a week! Our hearts are full.

20/06/2026

On , we celebrate that courage. 🧡

18/06/2026

We had a brilliant afternoon celebrating The University of Manchester’s Sanctuary Award and hearing about the brilliant ways they learn, embed and share welcome! 🌟🧡

UoM first gained the Award back in 2019, making them the first university in the North West to do so.

7️⃣ years on. Still going strong. 💪

15/06/2026

Manchester’s movement of welcome is built on courage.

The courage to say: “yes, we are a city of sanctuary, and we’re proud of it.”

The courage to put this into practice every day, from refugee-friendly policy at the local authority level, right down to of welcome in our communities, from refugee football tournaments to inviting your new neighbour round for a cuppa! ☕️

And of course the courage of refugees, who build a new life as Mancunians and enrich our city in so many ways.

Throughout , we’ll be out and about in Manchester attending events and raising awareness of our movement of welcome.

Stay tuned! 👋

08/06/2026

This year’s Refugee Week is marking ‘Courage’ and everyone is invited to explore what that means to them.

📅 15-21 June

Take part by doing a Simple Act or attending an event near you! To find out what’s on & how to get involved visit refugeeweek.org.uk