College of Sanctuary

City of Bristol College is proud to be a part of Bristol City of Sanctuary, and to have received College of Sanctuary status.

Recently, a collaboration between our Level 3 Creative Media students and our ESOL students resulted in the broadcast of a 3-part radio documentary on Bristol Community FM to mark National Refugee Week and to celebrate the college’s status as a College of Sanctuary.

You can listen to the documentary via this link. Simply follow the link and find the 20 June programme in the search bar.

Be Kind Bristol event: A day of creativity celebrating Bristol’s rich tapestry of cultural identities – Sunday 28 January

Come and experience the creative worlds of people who find sanctuary in Bristol, and celebrate the huge spectrum of cultural traditions that make up the fabric of our city. For more information, click here.

What is City of Sanctuary UK?

Launched in October 2005 in Sheffield, City of Sanctuary started with the vision that the UK should be a welcoming place of safety for all and proud to offer sanctuary to people fleeing violence and persecution. From this start in a single location, the idea has spread into a grassroots network of more than 120 local groups in the UK.

Schools & Colleges of Sanctuary is an initiative from Bristol City of Sanctuary, which aims to:

• Foster positive attitudes within schools, colleges and their communities around people seeking sanctuary
• Support schools and colleges to take positive steps towards being places of safety and inclusion for all
• Recognise and celebrate schools and colleges that are committed to welcoming and supporting people seeking sanctuary

City of Bristol College is proud to have regained its status as a College of Sanctuary. This means we are committed to being a safe and welcoming place for people whose lives were in danger in their own country.

We are a college that helps its students, staff and wider community to understand what it means to be seeking sanctuary, and to extend a welcome to everyone as equal, valued members of our college community.

Student Cultural Celebration

You can watch the below video to see our UASC students, alongside other ESOL students take part in a cultural celebration event to celebrate cultural differences and diversity at our college.

Useful links for refugees and those seeking sanctuary

Information about the asylum process

This Right to Remain guide on asylum is written for children and young people.
The Right to Remain toolkit goes step by step through the different stages of the asylum system for anyone over 18. It also includes information about the immigration system.

Advocacy and general help

Bristol Refugee Rights and Refugee Council offer information and signposting for refugees of all ages.

Red Cross can help with family tracing.

Legal support

Migrant Legal Project
Bristol Law Centre
South West Law
Fountain Solicitors
NLS
Albany
St Paul’s Advice Centre

Physical and mental health support

The Haven is a specialist clinic run by GPs and nurses who offer an adjusted service to better meet the needs of asylum seekers and refugees. Tel 0117 970 3887

Asylum Seeker and Refugee Clinic are where mental health referrals for asylum seeker and refugees under 18 go to. Email Anna Kalin for information.

VitaMinds offer Traumatic Stress Service: Moving on After Trauma Group for 16+.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

City of Bristol College provide Adult ESOL courses.

Learning English in Bristol is an online resource to find ESOL classes in Bristol.

Social Support

Creative Youth Network Welcome Wednesdays is a youth group for 13-19 year olds who are seeking asylum.

Borderlands Mentoring Project offers mentoring services for refugees.

b.friend Befriending Project is a Bridges for Communities-run befriending service.

Bristol Pride Without Borders is a support group for Bristol-based LGBTQ+ people seeking asylum and those with refugee status.

Housing

Bristol Hospitality Network works alongside asylum seekers facing destitution by sourcing hosted accommodation and creative community engagement across the city.

Refugees at Home is a small UK based charity aiming to connect those with a spare room in their home with asylum seekers and refugees in need of accommodation.

ACH is a social enterprise working to resettle refugees through labour market and social integration.

Anti-racism support

SARI provide support for refugees who are victims of racist and religious hate crimes, and can act as a referrer into specialist support for victims of disablist, homophobic and transphobic hate crime.

Free shop

Aid Box Community Free Shop for refugees and asylum seekers is also a community hub for refugees and asylum seekers in the city.

Support for victims of human trafficking

Unseen provide specialist accommodation and outreach support for victims of human trafficking and modern slavery across the South West of England.

Where to find us