Description
Belfast City of Sanctuary Management committee co-opted board memberVenue BCDA Ballynafeigh community development association
25th July 2024
Mission of Belfast city sanctuary is to make our city a hospitable and supportive environment for all its inhabitants and to promote and build a culture of welcome and hospitality for people seeking sanctuary and a safe, supportive and inclusive home in Belfast. We want to provide a welcome to refugees, asylum seekers and all those who have come here in search of a better life where their contribution is recognised and celebrated.. To make that happen we will work together across religious, cultural and national boundaries to create an environment in which we can all live together as equal citizens. This is an environmental project in which those from newcomer communities can work side by side with those from belfast’s traditional communities to achieve our common goals. We will build a culture of welcome in our schools, workplace, entertainment centres, worship places.
Belfasr city of sanctuary wants to build culture of welcome in schools, colleges, universities, libraries, workplaces. We are committed to working with all those in public services to ensure that an ethos of civility and welcome is well embedded. We see this three year project as playing a key role in helping transform Belfast into a city that is at ease with difference and greater diversity, a city that will welcome newcomers and assist them in becoming active citizens.
In adopting the three sanctuary principles, a school further embeds its culture and practice of empathy, welcome and inclusion for the benefit of all students. The school is required to demonstrate how it is visibly and actively committed to strengthening a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment and to equipping students to understand and respond to the needs of those who seek sanctuary in their communities.
dedicated to the sanctuary initiatives and commitment of the university to a culture of welcome
Queen’s university Belfast to engage in the process of complying with the standards and be assessed to become a university of sanctuary.
Employment rights/tackling racism in the workplace
The activities include:
Educational workshop
Health and wellness sessions
Cultural exchange events
Health and wellbeing
Project goals
Improve health access
Increase wellbeing
Promote integration and social cohesion
We work on reinforcing the importance of the work in trying to bridge the gap between the host community and the newcomers to foster social cohesion, reduce inequality and promote good relations and create a welcoming environment.
Collaboration with queens university to promote the university of sanctuary initiative enhancing support for refugee students in higher education.
Moving forward, the insights gained and the relationships strengthened will continue to guide our efforts in creating a welcoming and inclusive community for all.
For promoting positive community relations in south Belfast with Belfast City of Sanctuary in order to build up a better neighbourhood. Belfast City of Sanctuary, PSNI and Ballynafeigh Community Development Association led a discussion and workshop on ways we can improve positive community relations on the 19th Sept 2024 in Ormeau Road library
Beyond my professional experience, I have been actively involved in volunteer work related to EDI. I volunteered with Belfast City of Sanctuary, where I worked on projects aimed at supporting underrepresented groups in accessing educational and professional opportunities. This role allowed me to engage directly with diverse communities, understand their unique challenges, and advocate for their needs.
| Period | 25 Jul 2024 → … |
|---|---|
| Held at | Belfast City of Sanctuary, United Kingdom |
| Degree of Recognition | Regional |