At our June Policy Committee, our District Councillors agreed that Craven District Council should formally commit to be a welcoming place of safety for all, proud to offer sanctuary to people fleeing violence and persecution by adopting the City of Sanctuary supporting organisation pledge.

In adopting the City of Sanctuary organisation pledge we have committed to:-

• Support the ‘City of Sanctuary’ vision that the UK will be a welcoming place of safety for all and proud to offer sanctuary to people fleeing violence and persecution.

• Endorse the City of Sanctuary Charter, and agree to act in accordance with City of Sanctuary values and apply the network principles within our work.

• Recognise the contribution of people seeking sanctuary.

• Ensure that sanctuary seekers are welcomed, included and supported within our District.

Councillor Chris Rose has been appointed as the District of Sanctuary Member Champion with responsibility for taking this work forward and we will now work with local refugee organisations, people with lived experience and City of Sanctuary to develop an action plan setting out the steps we will take to make Craven a District of Sanctuary.

Craven District Council is one of a number of local councils who are working to create a culture of welcome, inclusion and empowerment for people seeking sanctuary.

You can find out more about the national City of Sanctuary movement here www.cityofsanctuary.org