67 people turned out for the first Public Meeting organised by City of Sanctuary in Loughborough on Wednesday 15th January. The vast majority were keen to set up a new Town of Sanctuary group to welcome the hundreds of asylum seekers who visit regularly from Nottingham, Derby and Leicester to sign on at the East Midlands Reporting Centre. Thank you to John Storer House, who provided a free venue for the meeting, and others, including the Loughborough Echo who helped publicise the meeting. Read more…
Andrew Lake spoke about the Dreamers project, supporting unaccompanied asylum seekers who are cared for in Loughborough. This project has worked in partnership with Charnwood Arts, who have helped to produce two excellent publications; Hidden Voices and Voices Beyond Borders. A young Syrian asylum seeker shared his hopes and dreams. People came from the Loughborough Council of Faiths, local churches, the county and local council, the BACA charity and housing project the Human Rights and Equalities Centre, Loughborough University and local schools.
Another meeting is to be organised to take the momentum forward. Ideas already proposed include the free refreshments project in partnership with John Storer House and a local community café, Schools of Sanctuary and even a Drop-in for those who travel to sign on at the Reporting Centre. Look out for a new page on the website!
