18/06/2026
It's Refugee Week 2026! 🕊️
Our amazing city has long been home to people seeking sanctuary 💞
During Refugee Week, 19 years ago, Sheffield City Council unanimously agreed to declare Sheffield to be the UK’s first ‘City of Sanctuary’. The City of Sanctuary working group organised social events which encouraged connection between different communities and amplified refugee voices, working to counter the biased media coverage and challenge people’s preconceptions about asylum.
Today, hundreds of local councils, schools, universities, libraries, theatres and more, across the country, have been awarded with Sanctuary status, pledging to create a culture of solidarity, inclusivity and welcome. The foundation of this movement is rooted in Sheffield.
