Our Story
In 2015, the front page of many newspapers showed the picture of a dead young boy washed up on a Greek beach. People fleeing the murderous regime in Syria were attempting the perilous journey across the sea from Turkey in small boats. Many drowned.
In Eastbourne, a group of ordinary people realised that, but for an accident of birth, this could have been them and their families. They wondered how they would have managed in such a dangerous situation, and if they ever arrived somewhere to claim asylum, who would help them? They realised that when brave people fleeing for their lives ended up in Eastbourne, they had very little support. Sanctuary Eastbourne was born.
In the early days, Sanctuary Eastbourne was a small group of volunteers with open hearts meeting weekly in a community space with an open door. For many weeks nothing happened. Gradually word spread and people began to trickle in and tell their stories over a cup of tea. That trickle never stopped growing and Sanctuary Eastbourne continued to expand to match the increasing need. Today, Sanctuary Eastbourne is a registered CIC offering multiple kinds of vital support over a number of sites throughout the week.
Our Values
As people make the courageous decision to restart their lives in a foreign land, it is our heart to welcome and serve people seeking refuge in our community of Eastbourne. We have welcomed people from most countries across the world!
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We choose kindness and empathy over judgement every time.
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We respect the worth and dignity of every person.
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We believe faith brings purpose and meaning to life.
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We value all people and their right to belonging & acceptance regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, class, age, religion, belief, sex, sexuality, or gender.
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We believe everyone has a right to a life where they feel safe and can live without fear.
Our Partners
We are part of a family of organisations across Eastbourne who collectively work together to support those seeking asylum and refuge. There is amazing work being done by each organisation and we are happy to connect our clients to our experienced partners as needs arise.
