Monmouthshire has been declared the first Welsh county council to be awarded Council of Sanctuary status following an expert assessment.
Monmouthshire CC has been assigned the status by the City of Sanctuary UK movement, in recognition of the local authority’s efforts to help those fleeing war and persecution.
A motion at in September 2023 saw the decision made to seek accreditation, with an assessment by an expert panel confirming that the council would receive the award.
Cllr Mary Ann Brocklesby, Leader of Monmouthshire CC, said she is ‘incredibly proud’ of the local authority’s achievement.
‘This accreditation reflects our long standing commitment to being a welcoming, compassionate and inclusive county, where people seeking safety are treated with dignity and respect’, said Cllr Brocklesby.
She gave particular credit to the Abergavenny Town of Sanctuary Group for their ‘outstanding commitment to supporting sanctuary seekers and refugees in Wales’.
Maggie Filipova-Rivers, City of Sanctuary UK Programme Manager for Local Government, highlighted the council’s success in ensuring its openness, partnership working, inclusivity, and the sanctuary embedded in its services.
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