Sanctuary in Chichester has launched an ambitious fundraising campaign to help grow our work in West Sussex.

Our volunteers aim to raise £40,000 in the next two years to expand our work to offer support for refugees and asylum seekers.

The money will help:

• Create more drop-in facilities, to add to the two weekly sessions we already offer
• Help more Syrian refugee families arrive and settle in West Sussex, along with the three families who are already here
• Extend our language learning service
• Offer more friendship-building and mentoring opportunities, potentially using sport as a focus
• Provide shelter to destitute asylum-seekers, sometimes at short notice
• Increase awareness of, and access to, our services
• Boost understanding among local residents of the issues that refugees and asylum seekers face.

  Donate here.

Sanctuary in Chichester will be holding a range of events to support the campaign, with plans including a local presentation of The Bundle, a powerful drama about the challenges asylum seekers face in the UK.

Roger Pask, our Chairman, says that donors are the life blood of the work that we do. “The sense of welcome and belonging that has grown for our Syrian families and young asylum-seekers in all of our work this year has become palpable.

“I am really proud of the efforts of everyone in our network and of Sanctuary in Chichester as a team. Everyone who donates and everyone who is involved in our many activities makes this welcome and sense of belonging possible.”

The fundraising campaign kicks off on ‘Giving Tuesday’ (November 28, 2017), a day when – following the conspicuous consumption of Black Friday – people are encouraged to give to good causes. Our supporters have always been incredibly generous and we hope they’ll back us again – either by fundraising on our behalf or offering a donation. Regular giving by standing order is particularly valuable, as it gives us the security to plan ahead.

Read our fundraising leaflet here.

Find out how to donate here.

We’ll be giving regular updates on coming fundraising events and on progress towards our £40,000 goal on our website and social media.