Sanctuary Forum – Making City of Sanctuary ‘Everybody’s Business’

What is the Newcastle Sanctuary Forum?
The Sanctuary Forum is a space for people to come together to share, explore and learn about the issues related to migration and seeking sanctuary in Newcastle.

Each forum has a theme and using presentations, case studies and testimonials, and group discussions the Council explore issues, seek solutions and propose changes to local services and the systems that are within our control to influence.

Why are they are important?
The Sanctuary Forums aim to support those in the city to learn more about local services and systems and how to use them, as well as to try to better understand the needs of those seeking sanctuary, how they interact with local services, in order to shape shared responses and actions across the city.

Who attend the forums?
For those seeking sanctuary – the Council aspire to listen to those with direct lived experience of the system, and for people to share the information that they learn with their communities.
For those working in the sector – to bring their experience and examples to add to discussion and to shape responses in terms of how the Council works within the city.

For those interested in supporting the work – to bring their ideas and enthusiasm to add to discussion and to shape responses in terms of how the Council work within the city.

Starting in 2021, the forums take place quarterly. Attendance of events so far had been c.60-80 people including a wide range of services, statutory, council, DWP, VCS, community, arts, sports, schools etc, as well as people with lived experience