Fabulous day in London at an IOM event celebrating Afghan women followed by cocktails by the river 🍸🍹#refugeeweek

Lovely to join a session of Boroughs of Sanctuary in London. With thanks to our Islington hosts 🧡🧡🧡 @@cityofsanctuaryuk.bsky.social

The number of people Killed or Seriously Injured (KSI) on Oxfordshire roads in 2025 fell by 18% to 213 according to provisional data issued by the Department for Transport yesterday. This is the lowest level on record. (Traffic data is not yet available for context, but in 2024 it increased 2.4%.)

“Net migration dropped from a peak of 944,000 in the year to March 2023 to 204,000 in the year to June 2025 according to government figures” Campaigning is not only misleading but also dishonest about the negative impacts of making Britain hostile to immigration. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...

An Oxford University initiative launches today to record “how people across the UK feel about the future of the country”. Dubbed the National Conversation, it aims to capture large-scale public data on social cohesion and community life. www.ndph.ox.ac.uk/news/major-r...

Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet member for Adult Social Care Tim Bearder has sent a strongly worded letter to the government over the impact of proposed immigration changes on care services, warning that this means fewer services at higher cost, putting care services at risk.

Probably my proudest headline @togetheralliance.bsky.social

Historic march against the rise of the far-right #togetheralliance @cityofsanctuaryuk.bsky.social

Lewisham hosts London’s Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice to launch refreshed ‘Borough of Sanctuary’ campaign – Southwark News https://www.europesays.com/uk/812729/ Lewisham has hosted London’s Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice to mark the launch of …#uk #news #uknews

I spoke up for Lambeth’s budget and the renewed commitment to be a borough of sanctuary for refugees tonight. Proud to back the most vulnerable.

'A Borough of Sanctuary, we want to create an equal, thriving society. One where everyone can contribute and benefit from a shared future' Great to see councils advocating for their communities in light of ever more cruel gov policy @cityofsanctuaryuk.bsky.social @islington-council.bsky.social

Huge congratulations to Hackney Council! Their co-production work is truly impressive, showing a strong and meaningful commitment to placing lived experience at the heart of decision-making @cityofsanctuaryuk.bsky.social

Excellent work by Monmouthshire Count Council. Exemplary political leadership and unwavering support for inclusion of people displaced by violence and persecution. @cityofsanctuaryuk.bsky.social

Really proud of Perth and Kinross council @perthandkinross.bsky.social leading the way in Scotland for the fair treatment of people seeking Sanctuary 👏👏👏

Really positive to see Salford putting real action behind its City of Sanctuary commitment with a new Hate Crime Reporting Ambassadors scheme helping victims of hate crime feel safer and more confident to come forward @cityofsanctuaryuk.bsky.social

Great to see Westminster Council standing their ground and setting out a clear, coherent strategy to support new arrivals as they move toward becoming a Council of Sanctuary. Real leadership means combining compassion with practical action to create support that is sustainable and dignified.

Two more councils have withdrawn from X (Twitter). South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse said that the platform had become “progressively ineffective at communicating with local communities, but recent events have caused the councils to take things a step further”.

Oxford Mutual Aid (O.M.A.) have tallied up their 2025 in their latest newsletter: With the help of more than 500 volunteers, they packed and delivered more than 10,000 food parcels in Oxford last year. An eye-opening 885 of their more than food parcel recipients were children under 12.

Has there ever been any poll showing the public this united? yougov.co.uk/technology/a...

Please consider supporting refugee charities like City of Sanctuary which have had one of their toughest years to date.

Cruelty isn’t a solution - and it’s not a distraction we should fall for. The real issues we face - fixing the NHS, building affordable housing, reducing wealth inequality - are not solved by making life harder for people seeking safety. 🧵

Shabana Mahmood on the BBC this morning talking about desperate people fleeing war and persecution as being given a "golden ticket" and "handouts" and saying she's got a "moral mission" to take them away from them Indistinguishable from the rhetoric of Reform www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/shabana-ma...

Swansea Council reaffirms City of Sanctuary status in social cohesion vote Councillors in Swansea have voted overwhelmingly to back a motion on social cohesion, reaffirming the city’s status as a City of Sanctuary and rejecting misinformation linked to Seaview School.

Great work Kingston Council!

Important, timely, analysis by @lgilbert.co debunking the commonly used line that "migrants are a burden". Shows that migrants are overwhelmingly bet fiscal contributors. Basically, you target migration, you crash the country.

Interesting analysis. In Oxford a local roundabout was flagged by a team of men from Liverpool....

You’ve got £9.95 to last you the whole week… what’s your plan? This impossible choice is played out in asylum hotels. Whilst people await a decision on their claim, they are banned from working & receive just £9.95 for clothes, travel, data & more. This is not luxury. This is a hellish limbo. 🧵

Word 😆🤣

So great to meet with the London Borough of Sanctuary leads. @cityofsanctuaryuk.bsky.social

Council Agree to Join City of Sanctuary Network #Newry https://www.newry.ie/articles/news/council-agree-to-join-city-of-sanctuary-network

"Newry councillors approve City of Sanctuary plans despite street protests"

Bravo to Perth & Kinross Council for issuing two strong statements today, ahead of a planned far-right "protest" against asylum seekers in the Radisson Hotel (formerly Station Hotel) in Perth tomorrow, Saturday 23rd. Counter protest is gathering at 10am, FB link for more info in next post. 1/2

Really proud of Newry! They stood their ground despite huge pressure from the far right

At the Greenwich Overview & Scrutiny Panel we had the privilege of sharing why it matters so deeply for us that Greenwich is a Borough of Sanctuary. We spoke about what sanctuary means for us at Creating Ground, and for us personally as residents and migrant women who call this borough home. 🌱✨

Hackney is committed to being a Borough of Sanctuary 🙌

Great visit to Goring on Thames yesterday by @freddievanmierlomp.bsky.social and @maggieflpv.bsky.social to look at the issue of a car-free cycle route between Goring and Wallingford. Currently the trail is interrupted by some stiles. @cyclinguk.bsky.social

No other party says the basic truth: migration is good for Britain. The real problem? Inequality, soaring bills, underfunded public services. That’s driven by the greed of the super rich and the Labour government who serve them - not by migrants.

Southampton: A City of Sanctuary where everyone is welcome. Read the latest Leader's Corner from Councillor Lorna Fielker, Leader of Southampton City Council. soton.cc/CityofSanctuary

New life for refugees helped by Borough of Sanctuary Fund https://www.allforgardening.com/1335682/new-life-for-refugees-helped-by-borough-of-sanctuary-fund/ A life-changing community project is helping refugees in Wandsworth make a difference with the support of the council’s Borough of …

Excellent work Lambeth council

Just 1 week to go until the Oxford Sanctuary Fair 2025! *Book your free place (or just drop in):* tinyurl.com/sanctuaryfair2025 *Part of Refugee Week* Organised by Asylum Welcome, University of Oxford, Oxford Brookes, IWAW, Oxford City Council & more.

Whoop 🙌

Excellent work Greenwich Council 🎉🧡

Wandsworth Council - a council of Sanctuary - is inviting local orgs to apply for grants up to £2,000 to support activities & events that promote understanding, build relationships & bring people together across the borough during Refugee Week. www.wandsworth.gov.uk/news/news-ma...

“The best thing about being part of the borough’s community is the sense of belonging." After fleeing Ukraine, Olga made Ealing her home and since has worked with @ealingcouncil.bsky.social to achieve the Borough of Sanctuary award 🏆 Read her incredible story👇 www.aroundealing.com/news/a-borou...

As your Labour Councillors, we will always be proud of our diverse community who come together in good times and bad to support each other. As a Borough of Sanctuary we value and celebrate all of those who settle in Waltham Forest.

I’m proud to be a migrant champion for Islington & of our work as a Borough of Sanctuary. Language is important which is why Cllr Una OHalloran, Cllr Sheila Chapman and I have written to the Home Secretary asking the Government to stand with us in supporting refugees and building community cohesion

Community as a Superpower As part of their ongoing commitment to Borough of Sanctuary status, @richmondcouncil.bsky.social is offering small grants for activities during #RefugeeWeek (16-22 Jun) to constituted voluntary and community groups Apply asap if you have an eligible event bit.ly/4ket4R6

Worth pointing out the real trend, but also worth noting that Britain desperately NEEDS net migration. The UK's over-65 population is going to increase by nearly 50% by 2050—who is going to fill the work force if not immigrants? timhirschelburns.substack.com/p/the-compos...

Oxfordshire County Council is the first county council to be awarded local authority of sanctuary status, thanks to its commitment to supporting people fleeing war, persecution and serious human rights violations, the council announced today.