City of Sanctuary

North Tyneside Learning Trust is a Supporting Organisation of City of Sanctuary

“We 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.

We 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 (as far as our specific context enables us to).

We recognise the contribution of people seeking sanctuary. Sanctuary seekers are welcomed, included and supported within our context. We expect our branches or local groups (if any) to support their local City of Sanctuary group if one exists, and will facilitate contact between them and their local City of Sanctuary group.

We are willing for our organisation’s name to be added to a list of supporters of City of Sanctuary, linked to our website. We are also willing to be contacted by City of Sanctuary with further ideas for how we can turn our support into practical action and to discuss ways we might work together to promote the vision further”

Why become a School of Sanctuary?

• Raise awareness about forces displacement and migration
• Support newly arrived students and all people seeking sanctuary
• To build a culture of awareness and compassion with young people at the forefront
• To ensure education provision effectively supports and meets the needs of new arrivals

What does it mean to be a School of Sanctuary?

• revised their curriculums to include a clear focus on asylum for each key stage and a good understanding of what asylum means across the whole school
• looked at how they can change their induction policies to ensure asylum is a focus and there is a positive welcome for all
• worked to ensure that their staff and governors have training on and understanding of the asylum process, the effects this can have on families and the support required
• engaged with local organisations providing support to people seeking asylum
• run information and fundraising events to support local asylum charities and to further understanding across their communities
• held events in school to raise awareness/ presented assemblies
• worked in partnership with other schools of sanctuary to share resources and support
• created ‘Sanctuary Groups’ in to help guide the project

Support for Schools

NTLT works in partnership with “Walking With” in Wallsend to support schools in North Tyneside to become Schools of Sanctuary. We are currently working with a pilot group of schools to support them to become Schools of Sanctuary. We are planning to announce our first set of successful schools in July at a celebration event that schools wanting to explore the award in 2023/4 are welcome to attend.

Timetable to be part of our next cohort of schools to become schools of sanctuary:

• Week commencing 10 July 2023 – attend the celebration event of the 2023 cohort
• 26 September 2023 Introduction to Schools of Sanctuary online from our regional lead
• 29 September 2023 meeting at Walking With to explain the award and support available locally

Take a look at our case studies here

Further information

Access this link to the North Tyneside Schools of Sanctuary web page. https://schools.cityofsanctuary.org/

Contact either of the Joint Local Leads for Schools of Sanctuary in North Tyneside:

david.baldwin@ntlearningtrust.org.uk

clare@walkingwith.co.uk