GM Sanctuary Seekers Community Response Group is a network for organisations across Greater Manchester who support people seeking asylum, refugees, and other migrants. We have a mailing list to share updates with each other and come together via fortnightly Zoom meetings.
As well as providing a space for collaboration and the development of partnership approaches, the group functions as a peer support space for VCSE and statutory colleagues. It is a space to meet up and share updates and insights, discuss challenges, advocacy and campaigns, and increase knowledge of where to seek support and information.
The space is also used to contribute to and coordinate responses to policy developments in Manchester. We receive regular updates from the North West Asylum Contract Board, and GMCA GM Asylum and Migration Response meetings.
The group is made up of local infrastructure and service delivery organisations delivering support to people seeking sanctuary in Greater Manchester as well as statutory colleagues at LA, GM and North West level. We welcome those from all sectors who have an interest in how people seeking sanctuary are supported in Greater Manchester.
Get involved
If you would like to be added to the group mailing list and/or attend the fortnightly online meetings, please email Milly via emily.mckinnell@macc.org.uk
There is also a GM Sanctuary Seekers WhatsApp group for members to share recent and time limited updates, resources, and requests. To join this group please email Milly with your telephone number.
Useful Resources
Macc has collated the following resources which are designed to help VCSE organisations in Greater Manchester support people seeking sanctuary. If you have specific questions about how to best support people, please be in touch with our GM Sanctuary Seekers Community Response Group via Milly at emily.mckinnell@macc.org.uk
Directories of asylum and migration services
Resources for current topics of concern
- Boaz housing resource for new refugees
- Applying for the Migrant Destitution Fund
- Right to Remain toolkit – a guide to the UK asylum and migration system
- GMIAU work to engage with GM Politicians
Staying informed: useful mailing lists
- Asylum matters: advocacy updates, policy news and sector events & vacancies
- Right to Remain: latest immigration and asylum news, information, updates, events and campaigns