Commitment to Sanctuary

17th December 2024 - The University of York

Reflection from Amy Cribb Price, Access Officer – Students Seeking Sanctuary:

Attending the Universities of Sanctuary Conference at the University of York, hosted by STAR, was an inspiring experience, reaffirming the importance of our work at Swansea University. The event brought together passionate individuals from universities across the UK committed to creating welcoming environments and scholarship packages for sanctuary seekers in higher education.

I attended various workshops during the event, exploring best practices for supporting sanctuary scholars, fostering belonging, overcoming challenges and addressing access barriers. These discussions were rich with innovative ideas and success stories from other institutions, sparking new ideas for our own programme.

I found discussing Sanctuary work with others working in the same field particularly valuable. Sharing challenges and solutions emphasised the strength of a collaborative network across universities nationally and it was encouraging to see Swansea’s progress aligning with the broader sanctuary movement.

I left the conference motivated and uplifted by the connections made and the stories shared, knowing that we are part of a community working to create opportunities and transform lives. I’m excited to implement new ideas and continue championing sanctuary at Swansea University.

Wednesday 20th November, 2pm-3:30pm - Online (Zoom)

This session will help staff members understand the current asylum system in the UK, various issues faced by refugees and asylum seekers and how they can help welcome and integrate sanctuary seekers into university and in Wales. A Sanctuary Speaker will be attending the event to discuss their own lived experience and lead discussions with the group. Through this session, we hope to encourage individuals to show welcome in their own communities and encourage the principle of belonging for all in Swansea University.

To book your place on this course, please contact Sanctuary@swansea.ac.uk

Tuesday 5th November, Swansea Grand Theatre, 11:30am-2pm & 2pm-3:30pm

Join us for the screening of DYSTOPIA (2023), a film centring the trials and tribulations of an African refugee in Europe. Following the screening there will be panel discussion with the Spanish film-maker Samuel Sebastian, co-director and co-producer Dr Sergei Shubin, and co-organisers of the event who are from refugee backgrounds.

The film and the following discussion will help to humanise refugees without objectifying them, helping to develop empathy as the benchmark for ethical interaction with the displaced people. The event will prompt participants to develop more positive relationship to migrants and shape their personal, political and reflective attitude to people on the move.

Event topics: Refugee; asylum seeker; Wales; Swansea; screening; film

Event type: In-person activity

Audience: Open to all

Event lead: Dr Sergei Shubin

Book here

Thursday 10^th  October 11am-3pm, Singleton Campus, Taliesin Create

Thursday 17^th October, 11am-3pm, Bay Campus, Y Twyni

Come along to the Support Services Showcase to meet staff from various internal and external departments.

Have in-person conversations about your own experiences, and gain a better understanding of all the ways the University can help you thrive during your time here, whatever you are studying and whatever stage you are at (not just for new students!).

We hope that all of our students feel right at home with us here in Swansea but if you ever need any personal or academic support during your studies, these are the services you need to know about.

There will be free hot drinks and plenty of freebies to pick up from your support services 

For more details: Support Services Showcase

At the start of this academic year, we held a Welcome Event for all students seeking sanctuary. This was an opportunity for new students to meet members of staff and take a tour around parts of the university. Thank you to everybody who was involved.

On Diolch Day, the Participation@CampusLife team shared an insightful talk about our work supporting students seeking sanctuary, including asylum seekers, refugees, and those with indefinite leave to remain. We showcased our tailored programmes, one-to-one guidance, and collaborative efforts to create a welcoming, inclusive environment at Swansea University.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate and learn about our commitment to making a difference.