Southwark recognised for supporting refugees and named Borough of Sanctuary

18 September 2024

Southwark has been nationally recognised as a welcoming place of safety for people who are asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants.

Recognition of Southwark as a Borough of Sanctuary follows the Libraries and Heritage Service becoming the first London based services to be awarded Libraries of Sanctuary status.

The Borough of Sanctuary status, awarded by City of Sanctuary UK, recognises Southwark as a place that welcomes residents from all over the world, including those that are escaping war or persecution, and has measures in place to provide support, care and professional advice to these communities.

The achievement is a culmination of the council’s work with Southwark’s voluntary sector partners and refugees to deliver the impactful services to people seeking sanctuary in Southwark. Partners include, Southwark Day Centre for Asylum Seekers, the Southwark Refugee Communities Forum, Community Southwark, the Law Centre, Panjshir Aid, United St Saviours, and Citizens Advice.

Councillor Jasmine Ali, Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Refugees, said: “Southwark has a long and honourable history as a place of safety for those fleeing violence and persecution.

“More than 40 per cent of our residents were born outside of the UK, so we can say proudly, and without exaggeration, that we are one of the most diverse boroughs in the country.

“I am so happy that I made my home here. My father was a Muslim, my mother was a Christian and my partner is Jewish. I can personally attest that our multi-faith communities make everyone welcome.

“The Borough of Sanctuary award, from the prestigious charity City of Sanctuary UK, is testimony to the unbreakable partnership of Southwark’s refugee and asylum organisations, working tirelessly to help hard-pressed communities build a new life of freedom and safety in the UK.”

The Borough of Sanctuary framework, which was approved at the council’s Cabinet meeting this week, looks at the things the council and partners already have in place to support our refugee and asylum seeker communities, including:

• We are one of the only councils to commission a thorough piece of research on the health, inclusion and overall well-being needs of asylum seekers and refugees (AS&R) living in Southwark.
• A commitment to treat all refugee, asylum seeking and migrant heritage children and young people who live in Southwark as children first and foremost.
• An outreach programme, with partners, to raise awareness of the Streamlined Asylum Process.
• An established Asylum and Refugee Resettlement Team in December 2023 to offer wraparound support to asylum seeker residents in contingency hotels who fall under the Streamlining Asylum Processing (SAP).
• Working with voluntary organisations to develop detailed guides for refugees and asylum seekers in the borough to help them navigate the complex structures around them.
• Southwark Council’s Public health team and NHS partners have put in place a number of initiatives to support the health and inclusion needs of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in the borough.

The framework also notes the work done by the council’s libraries to become the first London based service to receive Libraries of Sanctuary status.

Southwark libraries have a proud history of welcoming asylum seeker, refugee, and migrant communities. Library services have historically undertaken outreach work to promote their services in Barry House, one of the Home Office’s Initial Accommodation Centres (IAC) as well as engaging residents at local voluntary groups. They have previously won a Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals award called ‘Welcome to your library’., run Baby and Toddler sessions are provided at Dulwich Library as well as offering a games club and a homework help club for school age children, books are also bought in Spanish, Arabic, Pashtu, Farsi, Albanian and the libraries also hold children’s picture books in dual languages.

Libraries also offer free membership to asylum seeker and refugee residents, so they can access free services, including books for adults and children, free computer use, free Wi-Fi, IT taster sessions, digital drop-in sessions, Go Citizen Support (practice for British citizenship test), events and activities for adults, children, and warm hubs.

Libraries run an annual ‘Festival of Words’ which runs in concurrently with Refugee week. Authors, filmmakers, and activists with lived in experience of displacement and migration attend and co-host these events.

Councillor Portia Mwangangye, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Parks and Young People, said: "As a former asylum seeker, I know how important it is to have services that help people assimilate into a new environment. This is what our library services is doing for asylum seekers, refugees and migrant communities in Southwark.

"It’s a great honour to be recognised for our efforts in welcoming asylum seekers, refugees, and migrant communities, which align perfectly with our commitment to developing inclusive services. By creating safe, supportive environments, we ensure that everyone, regardless of their background, has access to resources, learning opportunities and a sense of belonging.

“Our libraries are constantly evolving, and we’re proud to be bucking the national trend of closures by opening new sites and finding innovative ways to use these spaces to better serve our diverse community."

City of Sanctuary UK works with individuals, groups and organisations in every area and in every sector to encourage inclusivity, compassion and solidarity with refugees and people seeking sanctuary.

Maggie Filipova-Rivers, City of Sanctuary Local Authority Lead, said: “Southwark council has been one of our most engaged councils since the Council of Sanctuary scheme was launched in 2020.

“The leadership and the officer team have been incredibly supportive and have done an excellent job embedding inclusive policy and practice across various services. It has been great to see increased partnership working with the local voluntary sector as well.

“We wish the council and their local partners well in the delivery of what is an ambitious action plan which is sure to improve the experience of people seeking sanctuary in Southwark.”

Page last updated: 18 September 2024