Southwark has been nationally acknowledged as a welcoming haven for asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants.
This recognition as a Borough of Sanctuary follows the Libraries and Heritage Service becoming the first London-based services to be awarded Libraries of Sanctuary status.
The Borough of Sanctuary status, awarded by City of Sanctuary UK, highlights Southwark as a place that embraces residents from around the globe, including those fleeing war or persecution, and has measures in place to provide support, care, and professional advice to these communities.
This achievement is the result of the council’s collaboration with Southwark’s voluntary sector partners and refugees to deliver impactful services to those seeking sanctuary in Southwark.
Councillor Jasmine Ali, Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Refugees, said:
“Southwark has a long and honourable history as a place of safety for those fleeing violence and persecution.
“More than 40 per cent of our residents were born outside of the UK, so we can say proudly, and without exaggeration, that we are one of the most diverse boroughs in the country."
“I am so happy that I made my home here. My father was a Muslim, my mother was a Christian and my partner is Jewish. I can personally attest that our multi-faith communities make everyone welcome.
“The Borough of Sanctuary award, from the prestigious charity City of Sanctuary UK, is testimony to the unbreakable partnership of Southwark’s refugee and asylum organisations, working tirelessly to help hard-pressed communities build a new life of freedom and safety in the UK.”
The Borough of Sanctuary framework, approved at the council’s Cabinet meeting this week, outlines the existing support for refugee and asylum seeker communities, including:
- Commissioning thorough research on the health, inclusion, and overall well-being needs of asylum seekers and refugees (AS&R) living in Southwark.
- A commitment to treat all refugee, asylum-seeking, and migrant heritage children and young people in Southwark as children first and foremost.
- An outreach programme with partners to raise awareness of the Streamlined Asylum Process.
- Establishing an Asylum and Refugee Resettlement Team in December 2023 to offer wraparound support to asylum seeker residents in contingency hotels under the Streamlining Asylum Processing (SAP).
- Collaborating with voluntary organisations to develop detailed guides for refugees and asylum seekers to help them navigate complex structures.
- Initiatives by Southwark Council’s Public Health team and NHS partners to support the health and inclusion needs of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants.
The framework also highlights the work done by the council’s libraries.
Southwark libraries have a proud history of welcoming asylum seeker, refugee, and migrant communities. They have historically undertaken outreach work to promote their services in Barry House, one of the Home Office’s Initial Accommodation Centres (IAC), and engaged residents at local voluntary groups. They have previously won a Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals award called ‘Welcome to your library’. They run Baby and Toddler sessions at Dulwich Library, offer a games club and a homework help club for school-age children, and provide books in Spanish, Arabic, Pashtu, Farsi, Albanian, and dual-language children’s picture books.
Libraries also offer free membership to asylum seeker and refugee residents, granting access to free services, including books for adults and children, free computer use, free Wi-Fi, IT taster sessions, digital drop-in sessions, Go Citizen Support (practice for the British citizenship test), events and activities for adults and children, and warm hubs.
Libraries run an annual ‘Festival of Words’ concurrently with Refugee Week, featuring authors, filmmakers, and activists with lived experience of displacement and migration.
Councillor Portia Mwangangye, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Parks and Young People, said:
“As a former asylum seeker, I know how important it is to have services that help people assimilate into a new environment. This is what our library services are doing for asylum seekers, refugees, and migrant communities in Southwark.
It’s a great honour to be recognised for our efforts in welcoming asylum seekers, refugees, and migrant communities, which align perfectly with our commitment to developing inclusive services. By creating safe, supportive environments, we ensure that everyone, regardless of their background, has access to resources, learning opportunities, and a sense of belonging.”
“Our libraries are constantly evolving, and we’re proud to be bucking the national trend of closures by opening new sites and finding innovative ways to use these spaces to better serve our diverse community.”
Image credit: Southwark Council
