Are you also wondering who these organisations are?

We currently have the support of almost seven hundred and fifty individuals and more than a hundred organisations, including schools, businesses, and faith groups. Each of these people and groups are helping to make Leeds a City of Sanctuary – but who are they?

For a complete list, please see the Supporting Organisations page: this page is about sharing information and ideas. If your organisation would like to be featured here, please email [email protected]

• Leeds Asylum Seekers’ Support Network has been welcoming people since 2000. Since then we’ve had over 850 volunteers working with us to befriend, teach English, provide emergency accommodation and help asylum seekers integrate into Leeds. As part of our commitment to Leeds City of Sanctuary we plan to carry on supporting those fleeing persecution and trying to ensure that when they arrive in Leeds they get the understanding and welcome they deserve.

• The Refugee Education Training Advice Service works to helps everyone seeking refuge in West Yorkshire reach their full potential, by assisting with access to education and training. RETAS also support City of Sanctuary directly and in practical ways, for example by loaning office space.

• Leeds Christian Community Trust helps Christians to make a positive difference to Leeds.

• Stainbeck Church (United Reformed), a small, friendly, open and welcoming congregation with some experience of welcoming asylum seekers and refugees. They are also supporting PAFRAS, LASSN, Manuel Bravo and other such groups. Their Community Cafe, held on Thursdays 11am-2pm, is a place to find support and friendship as well as some English conversation practice. There is also free use of computers with wifi.

• Together for Peace work to include people seeking refuge or asylum in their community projects and peace-building work.

• The Manuel Bravo Project is a charitable organisation which helps asylum seekers who are unable to find adequate legal representation. The Project is volunteer-based with barristers, solicitors, law students and other individuals volunteering their time. We seek to complement our legal advice by referral to and working with other organisations serving asylum seekers.

• Nigerian Community Leeds hopes to help make Leeds a haven for people from all around the world. They say that “One thing we have done for the last four years is the Leeds African Cup of Nations (LACoN).” This draws together teams from all over the world: “A number of African nations will be represented including Ghana, Sudan, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Somalia, Eritrea and Gambia. There will also be players from the West Indies, a United Nations team made up mainly of European nations, a multi-nation team from Manchester made up of players from Burundi, Nigeria, Vietnam, Kenya and Rwanda, and a team from Meeting Point – a refugee centre in Leeds – which will be led by a Cameroonian.”

• Hope for the Nations is a Leeds-based mission network which organises three events a year, including the Celebration of Culture in Briggate.

• Women’s Health Matters, an independent charity since 1987, works with women across Leeds so that together they can take control of their lives and their health. Using a community development approach, we offer groups, support, training, information, research, events and signposting to women who access our service.

• Yorkshire Futures is the regional data observatory, who have produced a report for policy and decision makers in local and regional government which reviews the existing regional research and data on asylum seekers, refugees and migrants.

• Leeds Wellbeing Centre is a charity committed to offering complementary therapies and counselling to some of our most vulnerable people in Leeds and to people would not normally be able to access such a service in
  Leeds. Since May 2009, we have been actively supporting Solace and
  Pafras clients by offering them a regular space in their lives for our
  complementary therapies or counselling to support them and help them make
  positive changes in their lives.

• Taste by Design has been awarded Community Charter Status by Leeds Ahead and
  Leeds City Council by supporting local communities; we recruit locally and
  support local economy. We are actively supporting community cohesion to
  bring communities together by organising social events i.e. encouraging
  people to share their experiences, food, culture etc.

• Harmonious Communities are helping City of Sanctuary by finding us venues and in many other ways.

• St George’s Church warmly welcomes all those seeking sanctuary in Leeds. As part of this we offer a weekly meal and conversational English class open to all asylum seekers and refugees every Monday 5:30-7:30pm in our Church Centre. We have a weekly drop-in session, Thursdays 6-7pm where there is time to provide a listening ear, support or signpost asylum seekers who attend the church or English class. We also host sessions offered by Manuel Bravo and the Children Society’s LEAP project.

• Stop Hate UK is a charity that provides independent and confidential reporting services for people affected by Hate Crime including those motivated by hostility towards your disability; race, ethnicity or nationality; religion, faith or belief; sexual orientation or gender identity. You can report 24 hours a day by phone 0800 138 1625, SMS 07717 989 025, or on the website Stop Hate UK. The services cover several areas of the UK including Leeds, Kirklees, Wakefield, Airedale, Calderdale and Bradford. The full list can be found on the website.