Manchester City of Sanctuary
@manchestercos.bsky.social
manchester.cityofsanctuary.org
Congratulations to @bevcraig.bsky.social on becoming the new Mayor of Greater Manchester. Being Mayor is an opportunity to bring positive change to the region “for us”, using the very motto at the heart of her campaign. We hope that “for us” means all of us, regardless of their immigration status.
Today is Election Day. 🗳️ Exactly two weeks ago, I asked candidates whether they commit to making GM a 'City Region of Sanctuary', building on the movement of welcome already established by @manchestercos.bsky.social + the wider sector. Check out the thread below for what they said 🧵👇
Manchester City of Sanctuary@manchestercos.bsky.social · 2w ago🗳️ At the Hustings: Speaking up for Sanctuary Last Thursday night, we attended the Greater Manchester Mayoral Hustings at Friends’ Meeting House, and were thrilled that our question was one of just six selected from hundreds of submissions. See photo two for our question. 🧵
Step one of fixing our broken asylum system: stopping this madness. The Home Office is choosing to leave people trapped in some of the most challenging conditions on earth. But this is not simply down to the suspension of family reunion rules... 🧵 www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Home Office blocking evacuation of dozens of women and children from Gaza
Refugee family reunions in limbo, despite Foreign Office saying it is ready to get people out of war-torn territory
theguardian.com
We’ve given him the blueprint. But does he have the courage? Proud to have signed @asylummatters.bsky.social’s letter - along with 200+ organisations - calling on the PM to take a new approach to asylum rooted in evidence, not cruelty.
Two days to go until the GM Mayoral Election 🗳️ Got a postal vote? Send it back now to make sure arrives in time. Voting in person? Don't forget your photo ID 📸 Find out more: GMElects.org.uk #GMElects
Hostility isn't working - and everyone can see it. Government after Government has tried making the asylum system crueller, and left it more broken than ever. But there's a better way. With 200+ refugee orgs, we've sent Andy Burnham a blueprint for a system based in both evidence and welcome.
🗳️ At the Hustings: Speaking up for Sanctuary Last Thursday night, we attended the Greater Manchester Mayoral Hustings at Friends’ Meeting House, and were thrilled that our question was one of just six selected from hundreds of submissions. See photo two for our question. 🧵
It was disappointing to see Andy Burnham back the new Immigration and Asylum Bill. If he is serious about doing politics differently, he should have followed the example of the 14 Labour MPs who voted against it, knowing that the consequences of this Bill will only prolong hardship and suffering.
You cannot demand integration while building an asylum system on insecurity
Burnham’s vote for immigration reforms was worrying – his government must not push ahead with inherited asylum plans
opendemocracy.net
'Women who have experienced immigration detention have been telling us for years that detention deepens trauma, damages mental health, and separates them from the people they love' @4refugeewomen.bsky.social @aviddetention.bsky.social @sdvisitors.bsky.social leftfootforward.org/2026/07/immi...
Immigration detention is failing women – and the prison watchdog’s report leaves no room for denial
The HM Chief Inspector of Prisons' latest report confirms what women have been saying for years: immigration detention causes profound harm
leftfootforward.org
As our former Mayor, Andy Burnham has seen our movement of welcome in action, and knows full well that a different future is possible. Today, we joined 218 orgs to call on the new PM to reject the politics of division and instead focus on what unites us. 🧡 #TogetherWithRefugees
Today we brought 219 organisations together to call for the end to the hostile politics and divisive rhetoric that have dehumanised people seeking asylum. Read the letter and get involved by visiting our website: togetherwithrefugees.org.uk/press-releas... #TogetherWithRefugees
We spent the evening at the Greater Manchester Mayoral Hustings! 🗳️ Great to engage candidates on how they will work with us to build our movement of welcome across all 10 boroughs, ensuring GM leads the way nationally in becoming a City Region of Sanctuary. #GMVCFSEHustings2026
The government is under pressure. There’s still time to stop “earned settlement”. Write to your MP today to ask them to speak up for our communities. To find out how to use this digital postcard or write to your MP another way, read our blog: gmiau.org/write-to-you...
"We plant belonging" A wonderful story, and a reminder of the importance of volunteering opportunities and access to nature to support the wellbeing and sense of belonging for people seeking asylum. Proud to see our members @asylumlink.bsky.social involved! www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
‘We plant belonging’: how nature charities and asylum seekers work together in UK countryside
Environmental and refugee groups have joined forces to benefit lives and wildlife in Wales and elsewhere
theguardian.com
Our members know the horrific pain of being separated from their loved ones. Data from @refugeecouncil.bsky.social show that 16,000 refugees have been separated from families in the UK due to the government pausing the family reunion scheme. Cruelty by design. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
More than 16,000 refugees unable to reunite with families in UK, says Refugee Council
Suspension of family reunion route has left many stuck in conflict zones or using people smugglers to reach safety
theguardian.com
Greater Manchester Asylum Hotels Group feature in this powerful article that highlights the reality of being moved around by the Home Office, from losing community connections to the anxiety caused by unstable accommodation Behind every move is a person whose life is being disrupted all over again👇
I met the asylum seekers being moved out of Home Office hotels - this is what I learned
Cramped conditions, unhealthy frozen food, and no space for children to play. These properties are not the all-inclusive resorts many think
inews.co.uk
READ our latest editorial 👇 These hostile policies will create a system where all migrants face increased discrimination, division and hate. Labour must take the opportunity of a change in leadership to rethink this course of action. www.migrantvoice.org/home/editori...
Changes to the immigration and asylum systems risk increasing harm
Proposed changes to the immigration and asylum systems pose significant risk to individuals in them, and the country as a whole. These hostile policies create a system where all migrants face increase...
migrantvoice.org
"The most sustained coverage came from GB News. Over the past year it has mentioned City of Sanctuary in at least 40 broadcasts."
How migrant charity City of Sanctuary was targeted by the far right
City of Sanctuary promotes compassion for asylum seekers and refugees. It has met a torrent of rightwing hate and misinformation
thebureauinvestigates.com
Thank you @tbij.bsky.social for shedding light on the ecosystem of misinformation which saw us face an avalanche of threats from the far-right. We will never stop building a movement of welcome 👇 www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
How migrant charity City of Sanctuary was targeted by the far right
City of Sanctuary promotes compassion for asylum seekers and refugees. It has met a torrent of rightwing hate and misinformation
thebureauinvestigates.com
Last summer we experienced a sustained and terrifying misinformation campaign. @tbij.bsky.social has just laid bare the ecosystem which generated, amplified and profited from it. www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026...
How migrant charity City of Sanctuary was targeted by the far right
City of Sanctuary promotes compassion for asylum seekers and refugees. It has met a torrent of rightwing hate and misinformation
thebureauinvestigates.com
📣 Great news! We've extended the application deadline! You now have until Monday, 27 July 2026, 12:00 PM to apply for the Live Well Communities Fund. Don't miss your chance to bring your ideas to life and make a real impact in your community. Apply now: https://ow.ly/Melr50ZixCM
📰⬆️Disinformation and misleading news stories are on the rise. If this worries you, we have a webinar for you! Develop the tools you need to have productive conversations about immigration and violence against women. 📆 Tuesday 14 July ⏰ 1-2pm 📍 Online us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Here's a better idea: #LiftTheBan on people seeking sanctuary working. Which makes asylum support the only safety net (and an insufficient one at that). www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Refugees would be told to repay around £10,000 under new asylum bill
The Home Office will be given powers to recover costs from adults who have received asylum support under new laws.
bbc.co.uk
An insult to all people forced to flee. A negative asylum decision has life-threatening implications. To outsource these decisions to people without the requisite training is to play with people's lives. This idea must be binned. www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
Public to decide asylum cases as Mahmood pledges to speed up decisions
The Home Secretary will set out plans for a new independent body made up of people from a range of backgrounds with training similar to magistrates.
standard.co.uk
These harmful camps don't just fail refugees - they fail communities and taxpayers too. The cost of this cruelty is eye-watering. Instead of warehousing refugees in retraumatising military camps - house people in humane accommodation within communities. #CommunitiesNotCamps
The government's hostile anti-asylum/immigration policies pose significant risks to the lives of people who have already fled for their lives in search of safety. They strip people of basic human rights & treat them as if they are disposable. They must be opposed www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Celebrating @manchester.ac.uk’s Sanctuary Award this #RefugeeWeek! 🌟 As a Trustee of @manchestercos.bsky.social, I'm so proud that such a range of esteemed institutions have joined our movement of welcome. 🧵
We had a brilliant afternoon celebrating @manchester.ac.uk’s Sanctuary Award and hearing about the brilliant ways they learn, embed and share welcome! 🌟🧡 UoM first gained the Award back in 2019, making them the first university in the North West to do so. 7️⃣ years on. Still going strong. 💪
Great to be part of Human Rights Solidarity’s panel discussion, speaking about how we make welcome tangible and actionable through our Sanctuary Awards. To us, solidarity is a verb. And amid troubling political times, seeing our movement of welcome grow across Manchester gives us so much hope. 🧡
