Wolverhampton has a long history of welcoming people from all over the world to start a new life in the West Midlands and has now become a City of Sanctuary, committed to providing a culture of hospitality and welcome to people, particularly refugees seeking sanctuary from war and persecution.
Over 200 local organisations and individuals have pledged their support to develop a city which is open and fair for all, to celebrate the contribution that asylum seekers and refugees can make to their local community and wider society, and to challenge any hostility and discrimination they may face.
Wolverhampton City of Sanctuary is part of national movement including boroughs, towns and cities across the UK and Ireland, all working to build this culture of welcome across every sphere of society.
What is a refugee?
Refugee is a person who has fled armed conflict or persecution and who is recognised as needing of international protection because it is too dangerous for them to return home. They are protected under international law by the 1951 refugee convention, which defines what a refugee is and outlines the basic rights afforded to them.
The convention's basic principle is that refugees should not be expelled or returned to situations where their life and freedom would be under threat. Once someone has been recognised as a refugee, they are supposed to be given access to social housing and welfare benefits and helped to find a job and integrate into society. In 2011 the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) estimated that there were almost 60 million forcibly displaced people around the world, including those displaced within their own countries.
The policy of dispersal of those seeking asylum accommodation in the UK was introduced by the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 and is controlled by Central Government, it is therefore not a local policy. However, once the Government allocates asylum seekers to Wolverhampton we are committed to welcoming them and appropriately supporting them to integrate into our City.
Get involved
- For further information, please visit the Wolverhampton City of Sanctuary website or Ethnicity, immigration and racism
- For details of the national City of Sanctuary Movement, please click here
To get involved in the Wolverhampton City of Sanctuary
E: wolvescofs@outlook.com
T: 07580 015377
Or additional information or services related to refugees and asylum seekers:
- http://www.rmcentre.org.uk
- http://www.tlccollege.org.uk/
- http://www.refugee-action.org.uk/
- http://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk
- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration