Craven District of Sanctuary 

Our Aims

Craven District of Sanctuary aim to create a culture of welcome, compassion and inclusion to ensure that wherever sanctuary 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 work 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. There is a website where you can find out about local events and activities. https://craven.cityofsanctuary.org/

Health and Wellbeing

We support our local health service, a Partnership of Sanctuary, to ensure that health and care services are safe, welcoming, and accessible. We want to work with local sports and wellbeing groups to offer a warm welcome to refugees and asylum seekers, and 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 share resources and news about the Sanctuary movement with local schools, encouraging them to become Schools of Sanctuary and offering links with organisations supporting welcome, empathy, compassion and kindness.

Libraries and Council Services

We work with libraries and other North Yorkshire Council services in Craven to raise awareness about refugees and asylum seekers. North Yorkshire Library service was awarded Libraries of Sanctuary status in October 2023.

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 April 2025