About us
Who we are
We are a small, friendly and dedicated team at Swindon City of Sanctuary. All staff, volunteers and trustees are valued equally. Working for us means you will be in a very supportive enviroment where your voice, creativity and ideas are welcome. We expect our employees to be passionate about our cause and dedicated to their work but we are also an employer who support flexible working where possible and believe in helping you to find a work/life balance.
Our Vision
Swindon City of Sanctuary shares the national City of Sanctuary vision that the UK will be a welcoming place of safety for all and is proud to offer sanctuary to people fleeing violence and persecution.
Our Mission
Swindon City of Sanctuary seeks to build a culture of welcome, inclusion and support for everyone in Swindon, with a focus on those seeking sanctuary.
In practical terms, we do this by bringing people and organisations together, raising awareness and celebrating our diverse town through the national scheme of sanctuary awards.
We are proud to be part of the national movement that is City of Sanctuary
Our Values
TRUST
Trust is at the core of our organisation. We understand that those we support and collaborate with deserve and expect our trustworthiness in the ways we work and the decisions we take. We are open and approachable and take safeguarding seriously in personal and confidential matters.
INCLUSIVE
Being inclusive is essential in our work and for us this means we begin with consideration and care in each individual encounter. We support each sanctuary seeker in a consultative, empowering and respectful way, showing encouragement and patience. We actively and equally value the contribution that all of our staff, volunteers, trustees and those who benefit make and involve them meaningfully in decisions about our work.
OBJECTIVE
Our kindness is not lessened by our objectivity and clarity, which are important in the way that we conduct our work internally and externally. We are non-judgmental, fair and focused. We ensure to work ethically in all we do and who we work with, as well as considering our environmental impact as a charity.
INFORMED
Across our organisation we stay informed and knowledgeable of the circumstances and laws affecting sanctuary seekers, and the issues around hate crime locally. We use our knowledge and awareness proactively to challenge preconceptions, to share knowledge across Swindon and to help create better understanding between us all.
INSPIRATIONAL
We use our creativity and innovation to make our expressions, our connections and our outreach work as educational and inspirational as they can be. We hope to inspire others to actively help make Swindon a welcoming place for all who live here. We believe in generous leadership and that the best work relies on different experiences and perspectives. We seek out the best ideas, wherever they come from.
POSITIVE & COMMITTED
We are strongly committed to work, educate and campaign in a responsible, coordinated and strategic way. We aim to focus on the positive, overcoming challenges and hostility by finding common ground. We respond with activities that bring our community together and enable us to listen and learn from each other, in order to break down stereotypes and resentment driven by fear.