Babergh signs up to Council of Sanctuary pledge to help integrate refugees into local communities as Ukraine crisis worsens

Babergh has pledged to help its communities become more welcoming to refugees after signing up to a national support network, as the humanitarian crisis in war-torn Ukraine worsens.

A motion for Babergh District Council to sign up as a Council of Sanctuary – a commitment to welcome refugees and asylum seekers and include them in all local activities – received broad backing across party lines.

The pledge is driven by the nationwide City of Sanctuary Local Authority Network, which began in 2007 with Sheffield City Council, and has since added authorities across the UK.

The motion passed by Babergh called on the council to take practical steps to “welcome and integrate all people into our communities, activities and culture”, through its actions and policies, alongside partners in the statutory and voluntary sectors.

It comes amid the backdrop of millions of people fleeing from Ukraine, as the country is devastated by invading Russian forces.

Green Party councillor Leigh Jamieson, who proposed the Babergh motion, said the purpose of the Council of Sanctuary pledge is not just about giving refugees a place to stay, but also recognising their potential contribution to Suffolk’s towns and villages.

“The idea is to set up a network of agencies and community groups to ensure that people who come here seeking sanctuary are catered for in all aspects of everyday life,” he told Suffolk News.

“It’s really to get local authorities to think outside the box, so that what they do doesn’t just cater to local residents, but anyone who comes here.

“It’s not just a case of finding them a house. It’s making sure everything we do allows them to integrate into the community.

“Take, for example, the leisure sector. Someone coming in, with English not being their first language, might not know how to use leisure facilities.

“We want this support to be written into council policy. We want these people to be thought of at every step, so they aren’t left out and struggle to integrate.”

Cllr Jamieson explained that the next steps are to work with the City of Sanctuary organisation to identify areas of deficiency in the current provisions and how these can be improved.

He stressed that, while the current crisis in Ukraine is a priority, it was important not to forget people who have arrived in Suffolk from other countries ravaged by conflict, such as Afghanistan and Syria.

“We want to reach out to the people of Ukraine,” he said. “I have been as shocked as everyone else.

“What’s happening out there is dreadful, but there are also the likes of the Afghans and the Syrians and, sometimes, it feels like they are almost forgotten.

“Even though the Afghanistan crisis was last year, there are still some Afghans living in temporary accommodation.

“We certainly need to focus on the current situation and the millions of people on the move at the moment, but we must not forget about people who are coming from similarly horrific situations.”

For more information about the pledge, click here.

Following Babergh’s approval of the Council of Sanctuary motion, the authority stated this would “further demonstrate our commitment to welcoming supporting asylum seekers and refugees and integrating them into our communities”.

A council spokeswoman confirmed the pledge will build on the existing support provisions for both Ukrainian refugees and those arriving in the area from elsewhere.

“We hope that, by signing up to the City of Sanctuary programme, we not only send a clear message of Babergh’s support for those in need, but we also join a network of individuals and organisations across the UK encouraging inclusivity, compassion and solidarity for people forced to flee their homes,” she said.

The authority emphasised it has already given its full backing for Ukrainian refugees, including offering help for new arrivals and supporting the Homes for Ukraine refugees scheme.

It is also a part of Suffolk’s Ukraine Task Group, alongside representatives from three local clinical commissioning groups, Health Outreach, Suffolk Police, Suffolk Refugee Support, Anglia Care Trust and Community Action Suffolk.

The task group aims to ensure refugees’ arrival goes “as smoothly as possible”, by helping in areas such as health and wellbeing needs, school admissions and communication assistance for non-English speakers.

The Babergh spokeswoman said: “As part of our role in the process, our officers are currently carrying out property inspections of homes where sponsors have been matched by the Home Office to a Ukraine family or individual.

“We contact sponsors to arrange a visit, in order to ensure homes are appropriate and safe. These inspections cover things like kitchen facilities, safety features, gas safety and hazards.

“Getting all of the appropriate checks done is a combined effort by several members within the task force and we all play our part.”

She added: “It’s important to remember that this is in addition to the support we continue to offer protection to vulnerable families and individuals from elsewhere, including those currently arriving in Suffolk under the UK government’s Afghan resettlement scheme.

“We also assist a number of local community organisations, both directly and indirectly, through funding and advice, in order to help those in need through support within their own neighbourhoods.”