Enthusiastic backing to Craven becoming a 'district of sanctuary'

Councillors have supported Craven applying to join a long list of cities and towns across the UK committed to showing their support for refugees and asylum seekers and to create a culture of welcome.

Cllr Robert Ogden told a meeting of the district council that it was important and significant because of what was going on in the world.

He said at the policy meeting, there had been Afghanistan and more recently, the war in Eastern Europe, in Ukraine. By calling it a 'district of sanctuary' instead of a 'city' of sanctuary would reflect the rural area of Craven.

A report to the meeting stated that becoming part of City of Sanctuary UK, the umbrella organisation, Craven would become part of a vision to create a culture of welcome, compassion and inclusion, to ensure that wherever sanctuary seekers go, they will find people who welcome them.

By signing the City of Sanctuary pledge, Craven will commit to be a welcoming place of safety for all and be proud to offer sanctuary to people fleeing violence and persecution.

Craven will now work with the City of Sanctuary, local refugee support groups and others to develop an action plan with the intention of submitting an application for the City of Sanctuary Award.

In order to get the award, the council will have to provide awareness raising opportunities and show how it has achieved this by introducing into the everyday business of the authority.

Councillor Chris Rose, deputy chair of the council, and appointed member champion for district of sanctuary, said it was important for people to understand why refugees and asylum seekers left their countries.

That, she said was a big part of what City of Sanctuary aimed to do. "These people have not chosen to come here. They have been forced to come to us," she told the meeting.

There were many differences between countries, and one way refugees could be helped was how to negotiate the education system for their children, she said.

Council leader, Cllr Richard Foster, said he had been reassured that becoming a district of sanctuary would be worthwhile and was not just a case of 'saying you were doing it'.

Cllr Robert Heseltine said he supported the proposal 'without hesitation'.

Councillors gave the go ahead to an annual voluntary donation of £250 to the City of Sanctuary for five years.