This is a summary of the current Action Plan June 2023. It will be revised as we go along

Craven District of Sanctuary

Our Aims

Craven District of Sanctuary aim to create a culture of welcome, compassion and inclusion to ensure that wherever asylum seekers go they will find people who welcome them and understand why they are here. To do this we have developed the following aims.

Community Welcome

Many of our villages and towns have provided a warm welcome to sanctuary seekers. We want to work with local refugee groups and communities to help people to feel at home by showing them around the local area, arranging social activities and helping with getting the services and information they need. 

Awareness Raising

We want to raise awareness about refugees and asylum seekers. For this we hold regular events and information sessions and take part in wider events such Holocaust Memorial Day in January and Refugee week in June. We have a website where you can find out about local events and activities. https://craven.cityofsanctuary.org/

Health and Wellbeing

We want to support our local health service in its aim ensure that health and care services are safe, welcoming, and accessible and to encourage all Craven GP practices to register as “Safe Surgeries”, and to commit to taking steps to tackle the barriers faced by many sanctuary seekers in accessing healthcare. We also want to work with local sports and wellbeing groups to offer a warm welcome to refugees and asylum seekers and to encourage them to sign our pledge of support.

Feeling Safe

We want refugees and asylum seekers to know they are in a safe place and can trust police and emergency services. We will invite those services to develop good relationships and an understanding of local laws, including protection from hate crime, modern slavery and domestic abuse.

Schools and Learning

We want to support and encourage more local schools to become Schools of Sanctuary and to make refugees and asylum seekers aware of local education and training opportunities.

Libraries and Council Services

We work with libraries and other North Yorkshire Council services in Craven district raising the awareness about refugees and asylum seekers. North Yorkshire Library service is in the process of applying for the Libraries of Sanctuary award and libraries across North Yorkshire are removing barriers to joining the library for refugees and asylum seekers.

Local Businesses

We want to work with local businesses to increase understanding of the needs of refugees and asylum seekers and to help people gain employment experience so that they will be able to find jobs in the future.

Updated June 2023