On July 15 Lambeth Council joined the 5k Park Run on Clapham Common – the second biggest Park Run in the UK to raise money to help sanctuary-seekers in Lambeth – and people’s support broke the internet! Our Justgiving page was blocked by a surge of activity! Before the page froze we knew we had raised £711 – although donations are still coming in – and a bake sale in the office the same week makes it £875 so far.
About 20 runners included sanctuary-seekers, Lambeth Sanctuary Services and other council staff, volunteers from charities, and Lambeth councillors including Cllr Dickson (Cabinet Member for Healthier Communities), Cllr Adem (Sanctuary Champion), and the Mayor of Lambeth, Councillor Sarbaz Barznji.
Word from the Cabinet
Cllr Jim Dickson, Lambeth Cabinet Member for Healthier Communities said: “Since the last Fun Run in October 2022, so much has happened in the Sanctuary space. We have seen increased hostility from central government towards sanctuary-seekers, vulnerable people who are in need of our support to protect themselves and their families.
“Fortunately, I’m heartened to say that Lambeth Council has joined forces with our sanctuary voluntary organisations to offer that much needed support. We worked together to become a Borough of Sanctuary in December and launch the Lambeth Sanctuary Forum. The funds raised through the Fun Run will be used by Lambeth Sanctuary Forum to provide essential items and opportunities for sanctuary-seekers to improve the challenging conditions they are forced to live in.”
Changes from Autumn to Summer
Since October’s first fundraising run, Lambeth has become a Borough of Sanctuary, launched the Lambeth Sanctuary Forum, welcomed 655 Ukrainians, housed 14 Afghan families, commissioned £120k of support services for asylum-seekers, raised £40,000 through corporate fundraising to provide shoes, jackets and laptops for asylum-seekers, provided a laptop to every asylum-seeking family in hotels, provided every sanctuary-seeking child in the borough with a Christmas/Winter present, launched our Sanctuary Internal Action Plan, provided funding for every-sanctuary seeking child to have a £100 uniform grant, and are supporting 6 schools through the Schools of Sanctuary process.
More information
- Contact sanctuary@lambeth.gov.uk or see our web pages for more about Lambeth Sanctuary Services and the support available including:
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- Lambeth’s Sanctuary Strategy 2022-2025
- English language classes
- Public transport
- Access to Healthcare
- Schools
- You can still donate via the QR code on the poster (shown above) or justgiving – and ask your friends, family and colleagues to support.
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