What is it?
In October 2024, Manchester City Council was awarded a ‘Council of Sanctuary’ status by the City of Sanctuary UK. This is in recognition of the work the council has been doing to make Manchester a welcoming and supportive city for sanctuary seekers.
Manchester City Council have demonstrated that they have done the following
- Learn: find out what it means to be seeking sanctuary; and be actively involved in awareness raising.
- Embed: take positive action to make welcome and inclusion part of the values of your organisation or community, to support people who are seeking asylum and people who are refugees, and to include them in your activities.
- Share your vision and achievements: let others know about the positive contribution of people seeking sanctuary make to our society and the benefits of a welcoming culture to everyone.
People have emigrated here from all corners of the globe to find safety, security and to make Manchester their home. We live in a vibrant and brilliant city because of the contributions our communities make to our history, culture and economy.
In the summer of 2023, we unanimously agreed at Full Council to become a Local Authority of Sanctuary. The accreditation process has encouraged us to reflect on achievements to date, as well as challenges and opportunities to come. The development of the strategy, recommendations and action plan has assisted the Council to focus on this often-unheard cohort of people - putting their needs, and how the city can meet these, at the heart of our work
Read our City of Sanctuary strategy
Who are people seeking sanctuary?
We use the term “people seeking sanctuary” to focus on individuals, not immigration status. This includes:
- People claiming asylum
- People granted refugee status
- People who have experienced displacement (e.g., from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Hong Kong)
Our vision
Our vision, is to make Manchester a welcoming and supportive city for people seeking sanctuary by embedding inclusion, compassion and empowerment across all services and communities.
Manchester is a thriving city that prides itself on being diverse and welcoming. People have emigrated here from all corners of the globe to find safety, security and to make Manchester their home. We live in a vibrant and brilliant city because of the contributions our communities make to our history, culture and economy.