Notice of the above Motion was given in
accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13.
|
Councillor Wiliams
will move;
|
Councillor Mitchell will second
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Borough of Sanctuary motion
This council notes that:
·
Waltham Forest is proud of its diversity
and history of welcoming people from across the world to the
borough; we believe we are a better place for it.
·
We are standing up for those facing
persecution and speaking out against the intent of the Home Office
to make the UK unwelcoming for refugees, asylum seekers and
migrants.
·
The Hostile Environment policy of the
Home Office has caused harm to various groups within our borough.
This includes residents caught in the Windrush scandal and EU
migrants who are facing an uncertain future as a result of
Brexit.
·
In recent weeks the Council has also
discovered significant safeguarding concerns in Home Office
accommodation in the borough and has taken purposeful steps to
address them and push the Home Office to make immediate
improvements.
·
That the Council has challenged the
Government publicly on its failure to keep people in its care safe,
and will continue to do so.
·
We are committed to continuing to work
with partners, schools, and the voluntary and community sector to
create a welcoming and secure borough for those seeking
sanctuary.
·
So far Waltham Forest has:
o
Hosted 346 people escaping the war in
Ukraine
o
Provided wraparound support to 400 asylum
seekers in contingency accommodation including financial, food and
clothing
o
Resettled 13 refugee families through the
UK Resettlement and Afghan Resettlement pledge
o
Provided over 3,000 people with holistic
support including ESOL, social integration, volunteering and
employment
·
Waltham Forest is currently supporting 66
Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children.
·
That Borough of Sanctuary is awarded by
City of Sanctuary to institutions that are welcoming to those
fleeing violence and persecution in their own countries, and
protecting the rights of all migrants, asylum-seekers and
refugees.
This council believes that:
·
The Council must continue to go above and
beyond to support its migrant communities and that the journey to
become a Borough of Sanctuary will solidify this
commitment.
·
We have a duty of care towards children,
and vulnerable and trafficked adults in our borough, and this must
extend to refugees and migrants.
This council resolves to:
·
Launch the journey to become a Borough of
Sanctuary by joining City of Sanctuary’s local authority
network and demonstrate its values of Inclusive, Openness,
Participation, Inspire, and Integrity.
·
Continue to welcome and support all
people seeking sanctuary in the borough and stand in solidarity
with them.
·
Challenge anti-migrant sentiment wherever
we find it.
·
Find more opportunities across the
Council to celebrate our migrant communities, tell their stories,
and promote their voices.
·
Work with local community, health, and
education partners, including those with lived experience, to shape
Waltham Forest’s borough of sanctuary ambition.
·
In addition to taking local action, we
will call out Home Office policy failure and demand
they:
·
Guarantee the safety of all children
under their care
·
Create a proper plan for
resettlement
·
Join with civil society organisations to
campaign for changes to Home Office policies, such as:
·
End the Hostile Environment policy
including no Rwanda deportations and ensuring all those eligible
for the Windrush compensation scheme are supported to
claim
·
Remove the ban on work for asylum
seekers
·
Ensure no profits are made through asylum
seeker housing contracts
‘
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