Southwark has welcomed its 400th refugee family, reaffirming its commitment to being a Borough of Sanctuary. The motion, moved by Councillor Jasmine Ali and seconded by Councillor Mohamed Deen at the Council Assembly meeting on 9 July 2025, celebrates the council's achievement and recognises the contributions of various organisations and residents.

The council assembly reiterated its commitment to the five City of Sanctuary values, ensuring culturally sensitive support that meets the diverse needs of the refugee population:

  • Inclusivity: welcoming and respecting people from all backgrounds, placing value on diversity and committing to equality
  • Openness: Committing to a culture of working collaboratively across the City of Sanctuary network and in partnership with other councils
  • Participation: Working with people seeking sanctuary and valuing and recognising the contribution of all. Aspiring to ensure that people seeking sanctuary are involved in all decision making at all levels and are supported to become leaders in the organisation, networks and the wider movement.
  • Inspiring: Working with enthusiasm and positivity and being determined to surpass what has already been achieved to welcome refugees and people seeking sanctuary.
  • Integrity: Aspiring to high standards of honesty and behaviour and always acting in the interests of people seeking sanctuary.

The motion acknowledges the vital role played by the voluntary and community sector in helping refugees settle into the borough. It also highlights the generosity of Southwark residents who have opened their homes to those in need. Partner organisations and council officers were also commended for their efforts in resettling families.

Southwark Council provides various types of support to refugees and asylum seekers. This includes support for children seeking sanctuary, Ukrainian and Afghan refugees, and asylum seekers. The council also supports the Southwark Law Centre's work and provides support to sanctuary seekers and refugees who find themselves homeless.

The council has provided support for 116 children seeking sanctuary since 2022, assisted almost 600 Ukrainian refugees following the Russian invasion, and supported 50 Afghan refugees as part of the Afghan Resettlement Scheme, in addition to 200 individuals already in the borough. Furthermore, the council has supported 574 asylum seekers who are accommodated by the Home Office and spent £24.6 million since 2022 supporting almost 800 households with No Recourse to Public Funds.

The four objectives of the Borough of Sanctuary Action plan, which serve as key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure its success, were also noted:

  • Stand together: We want Southwark to be a place of safety, support and opportunity for those seeking sanctuary and amplify their voices and experiences to shape positive change.
  • Voice: We want to celebrate the culture, diversity and contributions of those seeking sanctuary and amplify their voices and experiences to shape positive change.
  • Shaping Services: We want to better understand the experiences and needs of those seeking sanctuary and ensure that services and local agencies are responding to these issues and enabling opportunities.
  • Bespoke support: We want to foster collaboration between different local agencies so they can respond effectively, cooperatively and flexibly to the ongoing and changing needs of sanctuary-seekers.

The Council Assembly has asked the Cabinet to continue delivering on the Borough of Sanctuary Action Plan, provide essential support for refugees and asylum seekers, ensure a whole-council approach to supporting refugees, publish a report to mark one year of Southwark as a Borough of Sanctuary, reiterate its support for the Lift the Ban coalition, and actively support Refugee Week celebrations.

The full minutes of the meeting are available on the Southwark Council website.