A College of Sanctuary is an accreditation recognised by the City of Sanctuary UK, awarded to educational institutions that demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting refugees and asylum seekers.
It’s a college community that actively fosters a culture of welcome and inclusion, ensuring a safe environment for individuals seeking sanctuary.
It also means the following:
To be recognised as a College of Sanctuary, educational institutions must submit a portfolio showcasing the work they have done through the learn, embed and share sanctuary award process and criteria.
Learn: Colleges help their students, staff and wider community learn about what it means to be seeking sanctuary and the issues surrounding forced migration.
Embed: Colleges are committed to creating a safe and inclusive culture of welcome that benefits everybody, including anyone in their community seeking sanctuary.
Share: Colleges share their values and activities with their local communities.
In June 2023, Leeds City College became only the fourth college in the region to be named as a College of Sanctuary.
The status is awarded by the City of Sanctuary UK to recognise good practice and provision in supporting refugees and people seeking asylum. The college was found to have taken positive action to embed concepts of welcome, safety and inclusion through their curricula.
Ann Marie Spry, Vice Principal for Adults at Luminate Education Group, said, “As a group, we pride ourselves on being a safe and welcoming place for all, especially those seeking sanctuary.
“We have worked hard to embed a culture of belonging, addressing barriers to refugees and asylum seekers and helping them to achieve their potential in an understanding and welcoming environment.”
Staff at the college held listening sessions with English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students to better understand their college experience, including what they need and what they don’t want from college.
A training programme has also been introduced for staff that explores common misconceptions about asylum seekers and refugees.
Sara Trewhitt, Director of Operations at City of Sanctuary, said, “We had the pleasure of visiting Leeds City College, and it was so wonderful to hear from such a wide range of staff and students.
“They were so inspiring, and it was encouraging to see so much aspiration and dedication in our discussions.”
Leeds City College takes part in the national Refugee Week festival every year and hosts a variety of events and activities for staff, students and the wider community.
Refugee Week has provided our staff and student community with a powerful opportunity to engage in everything from hosting international days to joining, or launching, campaigns. The week also allows staff and students to come together to share their experiences and the challenges they’ve had to overcome.
