Cambridgeshire County Council has received Council of Sanctuary status, reaffirming the council’s commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for people seeking sanctuary in Cambridgeshire.
The council is amongst one of the first county councils in the UK to receive this national award, which celebrates local authorities that work hard to demonstrate hospitality and a warm welcome to new arrivals in the area.
The title was awarded by City of Sanctuary UK, a nationally coordinated network of organisations and services that support refugees and people seeking asylum.
The council supports a diverse group of migrants and refugees and has taken positive action to ensure all those seeking sanctuary are provided with the resources, support and opportunities needed to rebuild their lives. This includes access to essential services, education, and employment – as well as community integration through a variety of initiatives delivered by council staff which embed welcome and foster solidarity.
Some of these initiatives include a series of board game welcome events for the Hong Kong community living in Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire, multilingual storytimes hosted by Cambridgeshire Libraries, supporting a youth club for Ukranian young people, and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses provided by Cambridgeshire Skills.
Alongside this work, the council established the Cambridgeshire Migration Forum in July 2024 with local partners to coordinate support, identify key priorities and engage with residents with lived experience - as part of Cambridgeshire’s wider commitment to being a place of welcome and inclusion.
Cllr Tom Sanderson, Chair of the Communities, Social Mobility and Inclusion committee at Cambridgeshire County Council said: “Cambridgeshire has a strong heritage of supporting those in need, with many of our teams and services playing an important role in ensuring new arrivals are welcoming into our communities.
“I am proud that we’ve achieved Council of Sanctuary status. This award demonstrates our commitment to becoming a fairer and more caring county and ensuring that Cambridgeshire is a place of safety and opportunity for all.”
Cllr Alex Bulat, Vice-Chair of the Communities, Social Mobility and Inclusion committee, and Migrant Champion at Cambridgeshire County Council said: “We recognise the immense courage and resilience of those who have been forced to flee their homes, and this award underlines our commitment to making Cambridgeshire a welcoming place for people seeking sanctuary.
“As a council we are determined to enhance the quality of life for all our residents and build a tolerant and compassionate community which embraces diversity and supports people seeking sanctuary to achieve their potential.”
Maggie Filipova-Rivers, Local Authority Programme Manager for City of Sanctuary UK said: “Cambridgeshire County Council's recognition as only the second County Council of Sanctuary in the UK represents an outstanding commitment to creating a culture of welcome and inclusion.
“Through their dedicated Library of Sanctuary programme, innovative Migration Forum, and comprehensive strategy and action plan, they have demonstrated how local government can effectively embed sanctuary principles across all services. Their practical, coordinated approach ensures that people seeking sanctuary receive meaningful support while strengthening the entire community.
“Cambridgeshire's achievement sets a powerful example of how councils can create environments where everyone, regardless of background, can participate fully and thrive.”
For more information, please visit the Communities webpage.
