Solent Sanctuary Week

As a University of Sanctuary and member of the University of Sanctuary (UoS) Network, we are working with other universities across the UK to help increase the visibility, reach, and impact of our work with sanctuary seekers. The UK wide Sanctuary Week strengthens ties between institutions by providing students, colleagues and communities the opportunity to come together and participate in a range of events which will take place between Monday 4 March and Friday 8 March 2024.

The theme of this year’s Sanctuary Week is ‘Our Home’ and supports National Refugee Week which takes place in June every year, celebrating the contributions, creatively and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.

Events and activities taking place this week include:

Monday 4 March: Solent Sanctuary Scholarship Opens

In support of our vision and values as a university, each year Solent awards one Solent Sanctuary Scholarship consisting of a full yearly fee waiver and a £3,000 grant to a person seeking sanctuary studying on a three-year undergraduate programme. Eligibility criteria and further information, including how to apply can be found here.

Monday 4 March to Friday 31 May: The unfamiliar person

Andrews Concourse

We are proud to be exhibiting a range of creative posters produced by students at Solent studying BA (Hons) Graphic Design and BA (Hons) Illustration. This live brief in collaboration with CLEAR (City Life Church) looks at the misconceptions of immigration and the important role imagery plays in influencing hearts and minds.

Monday 4 March to Friday 8 March: What does home mean to you?

Solent Library

You may have heard the sayings ‘home is where the heart is’ and ‘there is no place like home’ but what does home really mean to you? Is it possible to have multiple homes? Join in our interactive display and share your views throughout the week.

Wednesday 6 March: Southampton Sanctuary Network

The Spark (TS414), 4pm – 6pm

This is the second meeting hosted by Solent University which brings together local charities, societies, and organisations to identify and develop collaborative opportunities to support those seeking sanctuary in the city and share best practice. Opening this meeting, we are welcoming BA (Hons) Acting and Performing students who will be sharing their performances ‘Home’. Everyone is welcome, please register here. You can view the agenda for this meeting here.

Thursday 7 March: Volunteering and Careers in Sanctuary

Hampshire Universities Together (HUT) - Online Webinar, 5pm-6:30pm

An online webinar to find out more about volunteering with refugees and asylum seekers at home and abroad, alongside hearing from those who have made a career in this sector. The session is part of the Hampshire Universities Together (HUT) week of sanctuary events and is open to all staff and students from local colleges and universities.

Confirmed talks:

‘A Career in Sanctuary’

Catherine Gladwell, Chief Executive (Refugee Education UK)

Catherine has worked with refugee and asylum- seeking young people in a variety of education related programmatic, policy and research roles since 2004. An honorary research fellow at the University of Winchester, she has led large-scale multi-national programmes and worked in sixteen different countries working or clients including UNICEF, UNHCR and Save the Children.

 

‘Responsible volunteering abroad’

Chloe Harris, Corporate Marketing Lead, and Mariam Amini, former Volunteer (Indigo Volunteers)

Indigo Volunteers was founded in 2012 to challenge the exploitative practices of for-profit volunteering agencies. Indigo partners with over 50 grassroots charities that offer multiple volunteering opportunities to engage in humanitarian support and development work. Since 2014, they have placed over 4,500 volunteers across 11 countries, helping provide food and shelter to thousands of displaced people along the European migration route. Marina and Serena will discuss how Indigo matches volunteers to projects that fit their skills and preferences, providing ongoing support, while prioritising the latest needs of organisations on the ground.

 

‘Get involved in your local area’

Laura Racioppi, Volunteer Coordinator (CLEAR Project Southampton)

CLEAR stands for “City Life Education and Action for Refugees” and has been a project of City Life Church since 2001 when Southampton became a dispersal city for people seeking asylum and refugees. Local projects like the CLEAR are reliant upon the time and efforts of active volunteers. In this talk, Laura will share what the CLEAR does and the variety of volunteering roles they have. She will also provide tips on how to reach out to other local charities and other ways you can get involved locally.

To sign up please register via the online form ‘Volunteering and Careers in Sanctuary’ Webinar Booking

Online events hosted by University of Sanctuary institutions across the UK

You can view the full list of online events here.

How can you get involved?

We are looking for students to become part of our Solent STAR (Student Action for Refugee) who share a vision of a society where those seeking sanctuary are welcomed and can thrive as equal members of our community.

Become part of one of the largest student movements in the UK, create long-lasting friendships, gain new skills, and make a difference to peoples lives. Email sanctuary@solent.ac.uk and we will let you know about our next events.