Click on the following images for free downloads of the Resource Pack and Report. NOTE: This is a lo-res version of the resource pack.
Below there are links in the tabs to other useful resources.
Resource Pack
The resource pack is designed to encourage and support community growing groups to welcome people seeking sanctuary. Click on the image or link above to download an electronic copy.
Report
The report offers a summary of our findings from the case studies, online survey and literature review. It is designed to support community growing groups and others with funding bids and research projects.
Gardens of Sanctuary Webinar – March 2021
Videos
The following are useful videos from community gardens already welcoming refugees and asylum seekers:
The Grange – a 10 acre smallholding in West Norfolk
Growing Together Levenshulme – an allotment project in Greater Manchester
Sage Greenfingers – a community garden on allotments in Sheffield
Room to Heal – a therapeutic community for survivors of torture in North London
The City of Sanctuary national website has a huge amount of resources designed to help any group or organisation working with people seeking sanctuary. Some of the most relevant resources include:
Refugee Week happens every year during the third week in June. We encourage all community growing groups to think about how they can be involved in this nationwide programme of arts, cultural and educational events that celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK, and encourages a better understanding between communities.
There are some fantastic resources to help your group mark Refugee Week on their website.
There is a huge amount of information available about refugees and asylum seekers. The following are links to some useful resources on facts and figures related to people seeking sanctuary.
Facts and Figures on the City of Sanctuary website
Global statistics from UNHCR
More detailed statistics on Asylum in the UK from UNHCR
Facts about Refugees from Refugee Action
For any group working with refugees and asylum seekers, it is important to have some understanding of the UK asylum process. However, it is critical to remember that you should never offer legal advice to a person claiming asylum but ideally signpost them to an organisation such as the Red Cross who are trained to support them in this process.
The Asylum Process Made Simple – a guide produced by Asylum Aid
‘Limbo’ – a 360 degree video from the Guardian about what the asylum process is like
Survivors A to Z – powerful audio clips and resources from Freedom From Torture
Many local and national refugee organisations offer training to individuals and groups wanting to work with people seeking sanctuary. Do an internet search or contact groups in your area to find out about any training that is happening. In addition there are some good online training resources (these are often changing so the following is a guide but might not be fully up to date).
Future Learn are currently offering a free course exploring ‘Working Supportively with Refugees.’ If this course is no longer available it is worth exploring what other course Future Learn are running
Cambridge English are running an online training course through Future Learn for volunteers working with refugees
The Asylum Support Appeals Project has a free e-learning course on asylum support
Amnesty International are running a free course on Refugee Rights
The following is a list of some of the key organisations working with asylum seekers and refugees in the UK. Do find out about your local groups as well.
Asylum Aid – Legal advice and representation for asylum seekers and refugees
British Red Cross – Legal advice and orientation support in their centres around the UK
British Refugee Council – Support for resettlement and integration including therapeutic support
Freedom From Torture – Therapeutic, advice and protection services for survivors of torture
Migrant Helpline – Offer advice and guidance to asylum seekers and refugees
Refugee Action – Support and advice for asylum seekers including legal advice and integration
Anna Locke has created a permaculture design for a ‘refugee garden‘ using the layout and plant lists of the Babur Garden in Kabul as her inspiration.
It is designed so it can be scaled up or down to any size. Anna has kindly made her design freely available and her hope is that groups can use it to design and build gardens which are welcoming for refugees and asylum seekers.
This is a lo-res version. Please contact us for a hi-res version of the document.