Since 2007 the charity Leicester City of Sanctuary has welcomed refugees and asylum seekers and helped them and supported them as they try to rebuild their lives, develop their skills and feel part of the community.
Its work was explained by the chair of its trustees, the Rev. Pete Hobson at a hybrid (face to face and via Zoom) meeting of Novus Rotary.
Pete said that despite the Covid pandemic and its lockdowns, the charity has continued its work and has distributed more than £5,000 from its emergency fund as well as encouraging refugees and asylum seekers to take up the offer of Covid vaccines.
Pete debunked the myths that asylum seekers come to this country to “take our jobs and our homes” by saying that asylum seekers are not allowed to work and that they cannot choose where they are housed in hotels or hostels while they wait for the immigration process to be completed.
The uncertainty surrounding their futures can be very damaging and Pete referred to one person who had become so depressed that they had taken their own life.
It is partly in recognition of that the members of Novus Rotary is currently arranging a narrowboat trip for clients of Leicester City of Sanctuary. If you would like to contribute by donating money or volunteering your time to help, please click on the “Contact Us” tab on any of the pages on this website.
And to learn more about the work Leicester City of Sanctuary does, please follow this link https://leicester.cityofsanctuary.org/ and consider becoming a supporter or member.
Last edited: 23:30 on Thursday, 10/02/2022
