Horsforth Town of Sanctuary has recently received the prestigious Jo Cox Award at Leeds Council’s Compassionate City Awards ceremony.
The Award was given in recognition of the diverse group raising awareness in the community and offering support to people seeking asylum and refugees in many different ways. Members of the group were invited to receive the award at the ceremony on 5th December at Leeds Civic Hall.
Horsforth Town of Sanctuary is part of the UK City of Sanctuary movement providing support, dignity and welcome to refugees and people seeking sanctuary. Initially begun in partnership with Our Lady of Kirkstall Catholic Parish, it is now part of Horsforth Chaplaincy Project (LCCT) and supports residents of a local hotel, and people seeking sanctuary across the Leeds area.
Support includes weekly English conversation classes, advocacy and help in accessing services around Leeds; regular clothing distributions; assistance with travel around Leeds; monthly social nights; free football sessions; trips out to the Dales, Yorkshire Cricket, central Leeds and local walks, to name but a few.
The men are also keen to give back to the community as much as they receive. Some of them are working as volunteers at local projects such as Horsforth Shed, and also with homeless charities, charity shops, refugee agencies and so on. Some are brave enough to work with volunteers to tell their personal stories in schools and Community Groups in order to raise awareness of the real situations faced by those seeking sanctuary.
Receiving the Jo Cox Award is a wonderful accolade in recognition of all the volunteers who have been involved with Horsforth Town of Sanctuary, as well as many of the asylum seekers themselves.
You can find out more details of the project and ideas for how you could be involved on the HORSFORTH TOWN OF SANCTUARY page on our website.
Heartfelt congratulations to everyone involved, and very best wishes for the continuation of the work into the future!