Bradford Council was awarded Local Authority of Sanctuary status in December 2021. Bradford Council were one of the first councils in the UK to achieve the new Local Authority of Sanctuary award, having been a longstanding supporter of Bradford City of Sanctuary since 2009.

The Local Authority of Sanctuary Award recognises that the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council is committed to promoting a culture and practice of welcome for sanctuary seekers and has successfully gone through the award appraisal process.

Bradford itself was first nationally recognised as a ‘City of Sanctuary’ in 2010 –  one of the first in the country. This was subsequently renewed early in 2014 following a thorough reappraisal. We regularly meet with the council to discuss how they embed a culture of welcome across their work and to ensure the commitments made in their application are followed through, as well as the recommendations of the appraisal panel.

Izzy Nicholson, former Partnership & Engagement Officer at Bradford Council explained how we help and support them as a Local Authority of Sanctuary, saying:

“Bradford City of Sanctuary have supported and guided the work being undertaken by the Council as a Local Authority of Sanctuary, helping to connect organisations within the sector to the local authority as well as highlighting organisations that are in need of additional capacity building support. They really are a wonderful asset to the sector and to the Bradford District.’”

There is a whole movement of local councils across the UK choosing to welcome, include and empower refugees and people seeking asylum. Read more about this movement here.