The Schools of Sanctuary Network is a largely grassroots movement, overseen by City of Sanctuary UK, but actively promoted and facilitated by a network of licensed delivery partners based within local communities. Our local deliver partners (our ‘Local Leads’) include City of Sanctuary groups, local (education) authorities/ EMTAS teams and some supporting partner organisations.
Local Leads are responsible for delivering the Schools of Sanctuary programme in their local area: supporting interested schools through the process, managing appraisal panels and engaging with the Schools of Sanctuary Team at City of Sanctuary UK. All the while, Local Leads support the Schools of Sanctuary network in their local area by upholding the City of Sanctuary UK vision of welcome and the City of Sanctuary UK values.
Local Leads are trained, supported and have access to a range of resources to help them in the delivery of the programme. They also gain access to a UK-wide network of people working with schools on sanctuary related themes with whom they can exchange updates and resources and share best practice.
Our Local Leads
In 2025/26 we have Local Leads in the following areas:
A-F
- Barnsley
- Birmingham
- Bradford
- Bristol
- Bury
- Calderdale
- Cardiff
- Carmarthenshire
- Chester
- Coventry
- Craven District
- Derby
G-P
- Gateshead
- Hay, Brecon & Talgarth
- Knowsley
- Lambeth
- Leicester
- Liverpool
- Newcastle
- Norfolk
- North Lincolnshire
- North Tyneside
- Plymouth
- Portsmouth
- Powys
Q-Z
- Salford
- Sandwell
- Shropshire
- South East London (Lewisham, Greenwich, Bromley, Bexley, Southwark)
- South Tyneside
- Swansea
- Tees Valley
- Vale of Glamorgan
- Wandsworth
- Warwickshire
- Wiltshire
- Wirral
- Wolverhampton
- York
Please note that as schools should take at least a whole school year to achieve the School of Sanctuary award, your school may be rolled over into the following school year. We try to confirm Local Leads in the summer for the following academic year.
We are also currently able to support any interested schools in Scotland and Wales even if there is not currently a Local Lead.
Sign the pledge to get in touch and learn more.
Due to limited capacity, we are not able to onboard new Local Leads on a regular basis. If your organisation/group is interested in becoming a Local Lead and building a local Schools of Sanctuary network, please get in touch to learn more about what this involves and we will let you know when there are opportunities to join our network.