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Faiths Group

Faiths Group

Cambridgeshire Faiths of Sanctuary

The Faiths Stream of Sanctuary recognises how faith groups support the ethos of City of Sanctuary and open their doors to those in need. We invite churches, mosques, temples, and other places of worship to work together with us to make Cambridge a place of safety and welcome for refugees and asylum seekers.

Could you welcome newcomers, lobby for change to the asylum system, or put up a City of Sanctuary welcome sign?

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If you are part of a faith group that would like to receive a monthly (or thereabouts) email with news and requests for help from refugee groups in the city please email Elisabeth Burleigh or Aidan Baker.

Could your faith community sign our Pledge of Support?  To download: use the downward-arrow on the top right of page.  To print: choose double-sided, landscape, flip on short edge.

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Pledging your support for Cambridge City of Sanctuary means that your group commits to explore ways in which you can help refugees, keep informed, and keep in touch with us by:

  • Learning what it means to seek sanctuary and raising awareness across the community.
  • Recognising the contribution of sanctuary-seekers and refugees to our community, and welcoming them and including them in activities.
  • Exploring ideas for turning the pledge into practical action.

Pledge forms may be posted or emailed to:

Cambridge City of Sanctuary, c/o Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum, 16-18 Arbury Court, Cambridge, CB4 2JQ  Email: [email protected]

Faith groups who are already supporting Cambridge City of Sanctuary by pledging their support include:

  • St Giles’ Church
  • St. Augustine’s Church
  • St. Luke’s Church
  • St Edward King and Martyr
  • City Church Cambridge
  • Cambridge Community Church (C3)
  • Emmanuel United Reformed Church
  • St Mary the Great
  • Memorial Unitarian Church
  • The Cambridge Catholic Deaneries
  • Jesus Lane Friends’ Meeting
  • Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue

City of Sanctuary Awards

Faith groups who wish to take this commitment to welcoming sanctuary seekers further can work towards a City of Sanctuary Faith Centre of Sanctuary Award.  The process for achieving the award is as follows.

  1. Contact us to let us know you want to start the process and for support and resources.
  2. Put into practice the three core City of Sanctuary principles:
  • Learn about what it means to be seeking sanctuary and be actively involved in awareness raising.
  • Embed – take positive action to make welcome and inclusion part of the values of your faith institution, to support sanctuary seekers and refugees, and to include them in your activities.
  • Share your vision and achievements. Let others know about the positive contribution refugees make to our society and the benefits of a welcoming culture to everyone.
  1. Gather evidence that you have achieved the core principles.
  2. When you’re ready, submit your evidence, which will be assessed by a panel to see if you have met the core principles.
  3. Be presented with an official Faith Centre of Sanctuary certificate.

Resources for ideas and raising awareness:

Terms and Definitions, Facts and Figures

Facts and Figures

The Refugee Project

UNHCR interactive map of refugee migrations around the world in each year since 1975

Refugee Stories