Hackney (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Hackney’s mayor aims to achieve official Borough of Sanctuary status by 2026, reinforcing its commitment to welcoming refugees and migrants into the community.
In response to inquiries last Thursday, April 10, Caroline Woodley listed her goals for the upcoming year, including establishing the municipality as a “Borough of Sanctuary.”
The local authority has already “demonstrated [its] commitment” to this, she said committee members, adding that she had been collaborating with the Refugee and Migrant Forum of the borough and others “in the hope of achieving that status within a year.”
The national charity City of Sanctuary, which seeks to establish collaborations between the community and voluntary sectors and statutory entities such as local councils throughout the United Kingdom, recognizes the title of “Borough of Sanctuary.”
Establishing a network of towns and communities that are “proud to be places of safety and inclusion for asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants” is the goal, according to Town Hall.
When the majority of council members supported the goal in 2023, Hackney started the process of achieving this status.
The council pushed former Home Secretary Suella Braverman to change her mind about withdrawing important pledges from the Windrush Compensation Scheme as part of its efforts.
The council explicitly challenged the Labour government this year to reverse the “hostile environment” approach of the previous Conservative administration toward individuals in the UK who do not have legal immigration status.
The North East London Integrated Care Board (NEL ICB) is home to the Hackney Refugee and Migrant Forum (HRMF), which spearheads a number of programs to assist migrants and refugees.
“Effectively oversee and support all third-sector organisations in City and Hackney, ensuring a comprehensive and cohesive network of assistance for migrants and refugees.” The forum “works strategically” with the NHS and the Town Hall, according to the forum’s website.
Alongside her statement, Mayor Woodley provided a number of updates during “Mayor’s Question Time,” during which she responded to written questions from the public and the cabinet.
In support of her objective of creating a new special school in the borough, she stated that Hackney has obtained millions more in funding for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision.
She also pointed out that the council had been in charge of an increase in the number of social care assessments conducted in 2024.
Although she had wanted to have done so sooner, the mayor emphasized that Hackney Council was fulfilling its promise to implement selective landlord licensing over the entire borough and that plans would be presented to her cabinet this month.
This plan would require landlords to obtain a permit in order to rent out properties, as part of the council’s goal to improve standards in the private rental sector.
On the other hand, owners that sign up for certification programs to demonstrate their dedication to best practices can be eligible for a discount.
This update follows last week’s renewed calls by opposition council members for Town Hall to expedite the policy.
More than 40% of the children in the borough lived in poverty when housing was taken into consideration, Mayor Woodley continued, but the council was “doing our bit to support those families and everyone living in poverty.”
Hackney wants to become part of a nationwide network of towns and communities that support the safety and dignity of those in need of refuge. By resisting hostile government actions, this program draws on its history of accepting refugees from nations like Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Vietnam.
She noted that Hackney had built four children and family hubs, commissioned 26 support services for families and young people, and implemented its council tax reduction scheme of up to 90% for select homes two years ahead of schedule in order to combat this impoverishment.
However, she admitted that a large portion of the borough’s citizens still “feel left behind.”
“Never was that brought home to me more than when I was able to get back out on the door after the pandemic and found some people in a really stark state of mental health, or with their home in need of disrepair,”
she said.
“There’s a huge gap between residents who are really benefiting from all the amenities that we offer, and those that are just almost hidden and that we’re at risk of losing.”
The mayor said this underlined the importance of partnership work between the local authority and services like Citizens Advice.
What steps will Hackney take to achieve Borough of Sanctuary status?
In order to combat discrimination, strengthen communities, and lessen socioeconomic inequality, the council is developing a thorough action plan.
In order to engage citizens, nonprofits, and council employees in the development of the Borough of Sanctuary project, Hackney will hold seminars and surveys.
To guarantee efficient assistance for displaced people, cooperation with neighborhood groups like Hackney Migrant Centre will be improved.
Through programs like Refugee Week and public recognition of their contribution to the borough’s diversity, the council will keep honoring the contributions of migrants and refugees.
Hackney will actively combat anti-migrant and anti-refugee sentiments while encouraging compassion and inclusivity in the neighborhood.
The council intends to oppose actions that violate refugee rights, such as recent modifications to the Windrush Compensation Scheme, and urge the government for improvements to restrictive laws, such as No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF).
