In normal times Wolverhampton City of Sanctuary hosts a Christmas party in December for around 300 local asylum seekers and refugees. This year, because of Covid-19, we plan instead to give each family a gift voucher and for this we need to raise £3000. You may have contributed in previous years to our pile of Christmas shoeboxes filled with gifts for Santa to distribute, but this is not possible with the current restrictions.

People come to the UK from all over the world to seek sanctuary for many reasons, and almost all are escaping traumatic situations at home including war, torture, trafficking or persecution. Even though many are qualified in professions such as medicine or teaching, asylum seekers are forbidden to work and have no choice but to rely on the state to provide accommodation and an allowance of £39 per week. Poverty, separation from loved ones, language difficulties, waiting in perpetual uncertainty of their status, sometimes for years, cause real hardship and mental distress.

This is where the City of Sanctuary movement, in cities across the UK, comes in. A drop-in centre to meet others in similar circumstances, the offer of advice and support from local volunteers, and the opportunity to take part in social activities around the year can make a real difference. One of these activities is a party at Christmas where normally Santa distributes gifts to all the guests donated through our annual Christmas shoebox appeal.

Every little helps!