Our Burnley City Of Sanctuary Network exists to promote the aims and values of the City of Sanctuary movement. We welcome all asylum seekers and refugees arriving in Burnley, recognising that many have experienced traumatic and difficult life events in their journeys here. We offer a place of welcome and safety in our Drop Ins and services promoting Inclusion, Empowerment and targeted help to rebuild safe happy lives here. Working Together with sanctuary seekers arriving in Burnley, and with our partners, we are developing and supporting initiatives building Understanding, Cohesion, and Integration amongst our whole diverse community in Burnley.

Our Aims & Objectives

· Provide an Initial Welcoming Environment in our Drop In, in a safe and welcoming space for asylum seekers and refugees, promoting an immediate sense of inclusion and belonging.

· Enable and empower asylum seekers and refugees, through targeted help with ESOL/ Skills for adapting to Life in the UK/Advice& Advocacy and through all of this we provide Welfare and Wellbeing support on their journey to rebuild safe happy lives in or town.

· Support our Host community in Burnley through City of Sanctuary through outreach activities which promote awareness about the issues surrounding asylum seekers and refugees through formal and informal teaching and community opportunities to mix in enjoyable social activities celebrating unity in diversity.

· Build Integration and Cohesion through a multifaceted approach seeking to ‘change the narrative’ about issues surrounding asylum seekers and refugees and to normalise the involvement of sanctuary seekers in all aspects of communal life in Burnley, as fully contributing members of our town wide community

· Work in multi-layered partnerships which give rise to opportunities for asylum seekers and refugees to mix with people from different backgrounds and to meet in social settings and encourage members of the host community’s involvement in our services and our movement

· Support the work Of City of Sanctuary through advocating and championing the establishment of a compassionate and effective asylum system.