Further Education Colleges of Sanctuary is an initiative to celebrate the good practice of FE Colleges who foster a culture of welcome and belonging for all, especially students with asylum seeking and refugee backgrounds.
On 1st December 2023, we signed the pledge as a supporting organisation, committing to the below:
Toni Rhodes, Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Education Partnership North East said: “We are delighted that we can formally share our pledge of commitment to achieving Sanctuary status.
“By creating an environment that is welcoming and safe and by providing the support that is much needed, it enables individuals to achieve the best possible outcomes and their own ambitions. For many seeking sanctuary, the experience they have at college will shape their lives significantly now and in the future.”
We are committed to supporting the College of Sanctuary’s charter and organisational values, including inclusivity, openness, participation, inspiration, and integrity, so that they can play a significant role in our region, to support building a more welcoming environment for people seeking sanctuary and migrants to the UK.
In working towards becoming a College of Sanctuary, there are a series of processes to learn, embed and share about asylum, refugee and migration issues and twelve minimum criteria must be met.
By signing the pledge, we endorse the City of Sanctuary Charter and agree to act in accordance with City of Sanctuary values and apply the network principles within their work.
This means a college is committed to providing support and education to people seeking sanctuary and contributing to a culture of welcome within the community.
As a learning institution, colleges have an important role in fostering a culture of safety, respect and understanding for new students who are seeking sanctuary and can lead by example locally.
Vice Principal of Curriculum, Kendra Kirby said: “As anchor institutions in the communities we serve, we are committed to creating a culture of welcome, dignity and support to refugees and those seeking sanctuary. We believe that wherever we come from we all have a right to feel safe.
“We have pledged to join the movement of welcome and ensure through transformational education opportunities, those seeking sanctuary will thrive and have positive futures in the North East.”
Being a College of Sanctuary means recognising and celebrating the achievements of students seeking sanctuary, as well as raising awareness across the college community.
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Community collaboration has helped hundreds of young people from Northumberland resume face-to-face teaching.
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Carmel Grant, Delivery Director at the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) recently paid Sunderland College a visit.
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98% of our students progress to a positive destination
(*Destination data for Sunderland College students aged 16-18, academic year 2017/18).
Our achievement rates are well above the national average.
We are the College of the Year.
(*Top college nationally for BTECs, Pearson 2019)
100% of our HND and HNC students progressed to employment or further study.
(*Destination data, academic year 2016/17, HNC 19+)
We have recently invested £50 million in our facilities.
