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Our 2025 Impact Report

A Big Thank You to All of Our Supporters in 2025

The team at Bradford City of Sanctuary wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported us in 2025. Donors, friends, colleagues in the sector, and everyone else who has supported us in some way – thank you! As a small, grassroots charity, our work would truly not be possible without you.

Bradford City of Sanctuary’s mission is simple: we want every institution, community group, public service and venue to be  welcoming and inclusive for sanctuary seekers. We believe that people seeking safety in our city deserve to feel welcomed in every aspect of daily life, and that our communities are stronger when everyone is included. 

This year, your support has enabled Bradford City of Sanctuary to: 

  • Support BD25 to become the UK’s first ever Cultural City of Sanctuary, creating more opportunities for sanctuary seekers to get involved in the arts.
  • Develop our partnerships with University of Bradford, Bradford Council and Bradford Libraries, including promoting the University’s incredible 10 Sanctuary Scholarships. 
  • Host a national City of Sanctuary learning event on refugee employment programmes, sharing best practice across the UK with 60 colleagues.
  • Launch Bradford’s first VCS Migration Network, connecting organisations, amplifying voices and driving change.
  • Raise awareness of issues affecting sanctuary seekers through 12 BCB Radio interviews and additional commentary on government policy.
  • Lead Bradford’s ‘Lift the Ban’ campaign launch with Naz Shah MP, giving people with lived experience the opportunity to speak up about the impact of not being allowed to work.
  • Develop partnerships with Bradford Jobcentres, East Riddlesden Hall, and Bradford Museums & Galleries to support them with Sanctuary Award applications for 2026.
  • Strengthen our team, welcoming 2 wonderful new Trustees (including our Treasurer) and Anna, our new Admin & Comms Officer.
  • Facilitate 12 Bradford Community Learning Together sessions providing free learning opportunities for volunteers and staff in the migration support sector. 
  • Recruit 4 fantastic new members to our Advisory Group to ensure that the lived experiences of sanctuary seekers are at the forefront of our work.
  • Lead a multi-agency collaboration with social services, raising awareness of the unique needs of sanctuary-seeking families. 

And it has enabled Bradford Schools of Sanctuary to:

  • Support 4 new schools to achieve the Sanctuary Award, with 5 more working towards it in 2026. 
  • Support our network of 63 schools and colleges to raise awareness of forced migration, increase understanding amongst children and staff, and enable sanctuary seeking pupils to integrate. 
  • Train 425 school and college staff in best practice to make education inclusive for sanctuary seeking pupils. 
  • Deliver assemblies or workshops to 3,050 pupils across Bradford, including the ‘You’re Welcome Project’ with Word Up North and the BBC, and assemblies with North Korean Refugees in partnership with Freedom Speakers International. 
  • Facilitate Refugee Week activities for 8,945 pupils across the district. 
  • Develop partnerships with 16 organisations, bringing lived experience, creativity and specialist expertise into schools. 
  • Facilitate 5 Communities of Practice meetings to bring together school staff and organisations to share good practice. 

We are extremely proud of everything we have accomplished this year, and we aim to build on our successes to make 2026 even more impactful. We will continue to spread our message of welcome across Bradford, Yorkshire, and the rest of the UK, and we’re grateful for your support as we do so.