Posted: Wed 12th Jul 2023

Powys to become Council of Sanctuary as it is “ethical and morally proper” thing to do

news.wales / newyddion.cymru
This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Jul 12th, 2023

POWYS will become a ‘Council of Sanctuary’ as it is the “ethical and morally proper” thing to do. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

At a meeting of Powys County Council’s Cabinet on Tuesday, July 11 councillors agreed unanimously to join the ‘City of Sanctuary’ local authority network and begin the application process to become a ‘Council of Sanctuary’. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In February 2022, the UK Government ordered that all UK local authorities should accommodate a share of refugees, under the asylum dispersal programme, and the network builds on that.
Cabinet member for a safer Powys Liberal Democrat Cllr Richard Church said that joining the network is “something we should welcome” and would send out an “enormous positive message from this authority.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Church said: “The work that’s been done for refugees and asylum seekers has been going on for some years and it’s something we have done well.
“In saying that we are county of sanctuary we’re sending a message to everybody that we welcome people coming here.
“Not just because we’re told to do it by government or by anybody else – but because we believe it’s something right and ethical and morally proper for us to do.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He added that the effort of voluntary and community groups efforts in supporting asylum seekers and refugees across Powys should also be “celebrated.”
Cabinet member for a connected Powys, Liberal Democrat Cllr Jake Berriman said: “It makes me proud to be a Powys councillor,”
Deputy leader and cabinet member for fairer Powys, Labour’s Cllr Matthew Dorrance said: “I’m really pleased to see this.
“This speaks to who we are and embodies our values as an outward looking, compassionate, kind and caring organisation.
“We should be proud of that.
“It will set a standard for us, and I hope will inspire others to follow our lead and council.”
So far, Swansea City Council is only Welsh local authority who has achieved council of sanctuary status.
Since 2016 the council has been supporting refugees to resettle in
the Powys and currently they help six families from Afghanistan, 15 families from Syria and 105 families from Ukraine.
By agreeing the proposal, the council will pledge to: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Support the City of Sanctuary vision that we will be a welcoming place of
safety for all, and proud to offer sanctuary to people fleeing violence,
persecution, famine, or natural disaster.
Endorse the charter and agree to act in accordance with City of Sanctuary values and apply the network principles within our work.
Sanctuary seekers are welcomed, included, and supported and support local City of Sanctuary groups.
Challenge anti-refugee and anti-migrant attitudes wherever they are
found.
Add the council’s name to a list of supporters of City of Sanctuary and
contribute ideas for how we can turn this support into practical action. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Membership of the local authority network is free, however accreditation costs £1,500 for three years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​



Spotted something? Got a story? Email News@News.Wales



More from Powys Council

Proposal to Close Powys Pupil Referral Unit Shelved, Savings Search Continues

Powys Council

Brecon Street to Become One Way Despite Majority Objections

Powys Council

Calls Made to Reinstate Sixth Form at Newtown High School’s John Beddoes Campus

Powys Council

Controversial Weather Mast Plans Near Staylittle Approved after Second Attempt

Powys Council

Assessment of Impact of Powys Border School Closures Missing, Councillors Told

Powys Council

Further Cuts Necessary as Powys Teaching Health Board Struggles with £23 Million Deficit

Powys Council

Latest from News.Wales

Senior Politician Backs Plans for New Direct Train Service Between Wrexham and London as Avanti Slammed

Wrexham Council

Proposals submitted for new dialysis centre in Neath Port Talbot

Neath Port Talbot Council

Proposal to Close Powys Pupil Referral Unit Shelved, Savings Search Continues

Powys Council

Swansea Council Leader Provides Update on Delayed Flagship Office Building

Swansea Council

Plans to Reduce Frequency of Black Bin Collections in Wrexham On Hold for Now

Wrexham Council

Plans for HMO on Edge of Wrexham City Centre to Proceed Despite Parking Concerns

Wrexham Council