Westminster steps toward becoming a ‘City of Sanctuary’

The City of Westminster is closer than ever to becoming an accredited Council of Sanctuary, where refugees and asylum seekers are given support and a warm welcome.

In January, Westminster Council’s cabinet of senior councillors approved the progression of a new strategy, A Westminster Welcome: The Strategy for People Seeking Sanctuary in Our Borough, to solidify its commitment to accreditation.

The strategy, developed by working with people with lived experiences of fleeing persecution, outlines a detailed approach for providing aid to sanctuary seekers.

A Council of Sanctuary is a title awarded to cities or councils around the country by the charity City of Sanctuary UK, on the basis of a staunch and public commitment to supporting people seeking sanctuary in the community.

In order to qualify, local authorities must meet the criteria set by the charity to learn about seeking sanctuary and raise awareness, embed sanctuary principles in council policies such as housing and education, and share their accomplishments to promote similar values throughout the community.

In 2007, the first City of Sanctuary accreditation was given to Sheffield and 18 other local authorities have since followed suit, with 50 more local authorities actively working towards the award. Camden Council was awarded the status in 2024.

In June 2023, Westminster Council voted to join the City of Sanctuary Local Authority Network. This was the first step in Westminster’s goal of accreditation.

The same year the council says it had eight “contingency hotels” open in Westminster, accommodating 934 adults and 214 children seeking sanctuary via the asylum process.

The new strategy breaks down four main commitments that the Council will focus on for improving the overall welfare of sanctuary seekers — community and collaboration, health and wellbeing, housing and accommodation, and employment and learning.

The moves comes at a time rife with anti-immigrant and xenophobic sentiment throughout London and the City of Westminster. As recently as September 2025, over 100,000 protesters gathered in the borough to voice their opposition to immigrants and refugees. This event made international headlines and perpetuated increasing hostility towards sanctuary seekers.

Westminster Council says it stands strong in its opposition for such hostility and is committed to fostering a welcoming and supportive environment.

Councilor leader Adam Hug, said: “This strategy builds on our commitment to making sure people seeking sanctuary are treated with dignity and respect and are supported to rebuild their lives. We will listen to communities and work in partnership with displaced peoples to ensure the system is fair, efficient and rooted in compassion.”

This sentiment was echoed by Catherine Mahony, CEO of charity Unfold, who stated: “We see the value of being a Sanctuary City in the hundreds of volunteers who mentor with us each year, and the women who pull together in our peer support groups. People helping one another, and organisations working together, is part of what makes Westminster a great place to live and work.”

A Westminster Welcome: The strategy for people seeking sanctuary in our borough.

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