Barnet was granted Borough of Sanctuary status

The neighborhood received the status for its efforts to welcome those looking for a safe place to live, reports Hana Rajabally

Barnet has been officially awarded Borough of Sanctuary status for its efforts to welcome those seeking a safe place to live, joining seven other London boroughs to receive the award.

The Borough of Sanctuary title is awarded by charity City of Sanctuary UK to organizations and areas that go above and beyond to welcome those seeking safe haven.

In recent years, Barnet has worked on various areas of aid for refugees and asylum seekers, including commissioning New Citizens’ Gateway and the Persian Advice Bureau to provide support and assistance.

Cllr Zahra Beg, Cabinet Member for Equality and the Voluntary and Community Sector, said: “Barnet has a long history of welcoming those hoping to build a better life for themselves and I am deeply proud to have built on this legacy and we were recognized. as a Borough of Sanctuary.

“I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this status and I look forward to continuing to work together to make our neighborhood a beacon of compassion where every resident, regardless of their background or background, feels a sense of belonging .”

Of the 317 local authorities in the UK, 68 have joined the UK City of Sanctuary network and of those 68, only 18 have achieved Sanctuary status.

The London Borough of Lewisham was the first local authority to achieve Sanctuary status in March 2021, and so far six LAs have achieved the status, including Richmond-upon-Thames, Bristol, Southwark, Wandsworth, Camden and Barnet.

Barnet Council has hosted over 1,700 Ukrainian refugees through the Homes for Ukraine scheme, supported many individuals and families through the Afghan Resettlement Scheme and welcomed Hong Kong residents through the Hong Kong BN(O) scheme.

In addition, the council supported more than 1,000 children in school places and allocated additional funding to schools hosting asylum-seeking children.

Following the award, the council re-launched the Borough of Sanctuary network, which holds regular meetings with voluntary, community and faith sector partners to support the integration of sanctuary seekers in Barnet.

Farida Stanikzai, Operations Manager at New Citizens’ Gateway, said: “For the past two decades, New Citizens’ Gateway (formerly Barnet Refugee Service) has helped refugees and asylum seekers in Barnet. Our customers, the most vulnerable members of society, represent a significant challenge to support.

“It is encouraging to see Barnet Council taking numerous steps to support this customer group over recent years, making Barnet a welcoming borough for newcomers.

Foujon Naini, founder of Persian Advice Bureau, said: “This significant achievement highlights our collective commitment to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment for all residents.”

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