The Sanctuary

Services offered

The Sanctuary aims to reduce social exclusion and promote the wellbeing of asylum seekers and refugees in Newport by: • Providing support for Refugees and Asylum Seekers to access mainstream services • To promote the emotional well being of refugees and asylum seekers through activities. • To develop the English language skills of Refugees and Asylum Seekers Run by the charity the Gap Wales, it is open to people of all faiths and none. The project currently supports about 150 asylum seekers and refugees in Newport on a weekly basis, and is staffed and funded on a voluntary basis. The project runs drop ins, social activities and English classes for asylum seekers and refugees over 5 days and 2 evenings a week. There is also a Mums and Toddlers group, a Games Night for men and an after-school Youth Club, which provides a safe space for unaccompanied minors to socialise with local young people and access appropriate support. The Sanctuary also provides a weekly meal as part of a drop-in café open to both men and women, and we organise a number of other occasional social events and opportunities for asylum seekers and refugees throughout the year, including trips to other parts of Wales, often in partnership with other organisations that support refugees and asylum seekers. Our activities are open to people of all faiths (and none) and we are pleased to welcome participants from all around the world, from many different cultures and backgrounds. We work in partnership with other agencies such as Oxfam, Tearfund, Seedbed Christian Community Trust, the Welsh Refugee Council, Aneurin Bevan Health Board, Newport City Council and the British Red Cross.