Making Lewisham a Borough of Sanctuary
Our mission
Everyone deserves a safe place to live, where they can thrive, build the life they want and get help when they need. But the government is creating a hostile environment for many people living in our communities, by pursuing policies that divide and exclude people with migrant and refugee backgrounds.
Make Lewisham a safe place for all by joining the Lewisham Borough of Sanctuary movement!
The Borough of Sanctuary movement is part of the national City of Sanctuary movement, which aims to create a network of towns and cities throughout the UK that are proud to be places of safety and inclusion for people seeking sanctuary.
The Lewisham Migration Forum
We coordinate our efforts to become a Borough of Sanctuary through the Lewisham Migration Forum (LMF) which is chaired by Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network.
Our aims for the Borough of Sanctuary are to:
- Challenge and campaign for migrant rights and against the ‘hostile environment‘
- Celebrate the contribution refugee, asylum seeker and migrant communities bring to the borough of Lewisham
- Raise awareness about some of the issues these communities face
- Facilitate training for local businesses and organisations to ensure they can offer a service which is welcoming to all migrants
- Be inclusive throughout the process by listening and engaging with people with lived experience, community organisations, statutory services, faith groups, businesses and much more.
We want to make Lewisham a borough where:
- Refugees, asylum seekers and migrants are treated with respect, dignity and equality
- A fair, humane and effective process is in place to support migrant communities
- An empathetic, people centred approach is in place
- Co-production and collaborative processes are valued, to engage the wider community and migrant communities
- The barriers to integration and interaction within the community are removed.
How to get involved:
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Get a Sanctuary Award and sign our pledge
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Subscribe to the Lewisham Migration Forum newsletter to attend meetings
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Follow us on Twitter @LewishSanctuary
Useful links
Recent News
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Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network (LRMN) and Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign Gain National Coverage about NHS “overseas” charging costs
Earlier this summer, LRMN, along with the Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign, gained national coverage in major newspapers after highlighting the damaging approach to charging “overseas” patients for healthcare. The LRMN press release looked at the results of an inquiry by…
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Lewisham Council formally recognised as the UK’s first ‘Council of Sanctuary’
Lewisham Council taking a stand against the “immoral and dysfunctional” hostile environment.
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Lewisham celebrates Refugee week
To celebrate Refugee Week (14-20 June), Lewisham Borough of Sanctuary joined Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network (LRMN) at the festivities at Beckenham Place Mansion in South London. We were two of many organisations that had gathered at the community centre…
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AFRIL – Action for Refugees in Lewisham.
About
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Keeley Mud: Create Without Borders
Keeley Mudd from local organisation Create without Borders talks to us about their work last year, the importance of art and their exciting plans for 2021.
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The Refugee Cafe
About
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Press Release: The Lewisham School of Muralism led by Artmongers has completed its first course culminating with the production of an extraordinary participatory mural on the side of Lewisham Shopping Center.
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City of Sanctuary Campaign supports families and children in home-schooling
Today we see children return to school across the country for what is hopefully the last time. However, this period of home-schooling has meant more lost hours of education and risks putting the most vulnerable children even further behind.
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LRMN raises over £1,400 to feed local refugees families
This winter, the Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network (LRMN) asked for help to feed families and people experiencing hardship during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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2020 Highlights: Lewisham pupils call for end to migrant charges
Last year a group of school children, with the help of Citizens UK and Lewisham Refugee and Migrant network, sent 60 hand-drawn Christmas cards to the chief executive of Lewisham and Greenwich NHS trust calling for an end to migrant charges.
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2020 Highlights: Progress on the Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign
Over three years ago, the NHS trust implemented upfront charges for migrants, a move which has been highly criticised and that the 'Save Lewisham Hospital' group has been fighting against since it started.
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2020 Highlights: Lewisham council refuses to comply with Home Office rules which mean rough sleepers can be deported
After continued pressure from and collaboration with community groups, Lewisham council has refused to comply with the Home Office’s new immigration rules that can lead to rough sleepers being deported.