Alan -Creating Sanctuary

Alan - Swansea City Of Sanctuary,

Quotes from the responses to the questions that I gave to the volunteers featured in Creating Sanctuary.

1. “…fund-raising, writing grant applications for the ‘SHARE Tawe volunteer hosting scheme’ to have a part-time paid co-ordinator …Chair of Trustees for the national City of Sanctuary …Co-Chair of Swansea City of Sanctuary as well as playing a role in promoting the idea of Wales as a Nation of Sanctuary.”

“My wife and I have also provided accommodation in our house for destitute asylum seekers. Over the past 8 years or so we have put about 20 different people up in one of our spare rooms for long and short periods.”

2. “Our work with refugees fits clearly with the Quaker testimony to equality. We do not regard what we do as 'helping' but as a demonstration of solidarity and a natural fellow-feeling towards those who as other human beings are equally deserving of justice and respect.”

3. “Giving time to the sanctuary movement meets my need for involvement and achieving something worthwhile…I also meet and get to know people from all over the world and at times to form friendships with them, which is a joy and a privilege in itself.”

4. “Some of the asylum seekers we have got to know through hosting them in our house, or through the singing groups I set up, have been detained or even deported and we have been powerless to prevent it. These have been painful experiences.”

5. “Just hearing from and meeting an asylum seeker or refugee directly will probably have a big impact on your friends or colleagues with many more of them wanting to join you in being openly welcoming towards those seeking sanctuary here.”

6. “…refugees generally want to belong, to contribute, and to ‘give something back’, even while they may be isolated and not know how to get involved without some support…they are also often very enterprising and enthusiastic individuals. Hence, given that support, they may bring a very great deal to their new communities.”

7. “The idea of being ‘proud to be a place of safety’ is one that catches the imagination of many like me. I hope that others will continue to be inspired and to join us in the movement to provide sanctuary.”