Swansea
Pioneering the sanctuary movement in Wales and the UK
Key Takeaways
- 1
Paid staff ensured a more consistent collaboration between different civil society groups and local authorities.
- 2
Discursive positioning as a welcoming city: The recognition as the UK’s second official City of Sanctuary in June 2010, became an occasion for civic pride.
- 3
A strong cultural and national Welsh identity coexists with intercultural openness.
What is unique about Swansea?
A culture of hospitality: As the second city in the UK to become a City of Sanctuary, Swansea is a hospitality pioneer in both the UK and Wales. The local civil society-led sanctuary movement has a long record of promoting a culture of hospitality for refugees and asylum seekers.
What are the key factors?
A civil society focused on impact: Swansea achieved City of Sanctuary status with the support of over a hundred local groups, and a unanimous resolution of support from the city council in 2010. This made it the first Sanctuary City in Wales, and the local movement went on to play a central role in lobbying the Welsh government to declare Wales as the world’s first Nation of Sanctuary. Swansea City of Sanctuary was the first within the national network to secure independent funding to pay its staff: two full-time employees and one part-time employee for a period of three years. This has enabled the group to have a strong bearing on local authority policies.
What are the greatest achievements so far?
Advancing social rights for migrants: Advancing social rights for migrants: Swansea has pioneered social opportunities for migrants in the city, and helped advance their social rights. Recently, the local council helped top up asylum seekers’ food scheme cards during the COVID-19 pandemic. This marked the first time that local funds have been used to supplement UK Home Office payments.
Political activities and advocacy beyond the city level
The Welsh action plan to “monitor and seek to mitigate the worst effects of UK Government welfare reforms” has helped Swansea to indirectly challenge the normative framing of the UK government’s “hostile environment” policy.
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Download the full city report
The city report contains more information about the city’s migration and inclusion policies and selected local approaches. Report from 2021, updated in 2023.