A coalition of faith groups, people seeking sanctuary and refugee support groups has recently started a Plymouth Citizens for Sanctuary group. ‘Citizens for Sanctuary' has developed a Sanctuary Pledge to take advantage of the opportunity afforded by the General Election - which will be taking place later this year - particularly as there are likely to be many new MPs who lack a ‘history' in asylum matters.

Building on the recommendations of the Independent Asylum Commission, ‘Citizens for Sanctuary' has partnered with almost every major national faith and denomination in the UK, from the Church of England to the Chief Rabbi, Muslim Council of Britain to the Salvation Army, Catholic Bishops' Conference to the Methodists - all committed to backing the Sanctuary Pledge. The Pledge itself is simple - five key asks, the most important of which is for politicians to finally end the detention of children. You can read the details of the Pledge on the website: www.sanctuarypledge.org.uk.

Help is being sought from people to co-ordinate the Sanctuary Pledge within the region. This would entail joining a representative group from your constituency, arranging a meeting with candidates and possibly attending a hustings. Training, guidance and support to do this will be provided. People are needed in every local constituency, but especially for Devon North, Plymouth Moor View, Plymouth Devonport, Plymouth Sutton, South West Devon, North Dorset, Mid Dorset & North Poole and South Dorset.

If you want to help end the detention of children, please contact Jonathan Cox, Lead Organiser, on 07919 484066 or at www.citizensforsanctuary.org.uk, or Mary Conway at the Plymouth Diocese Justice & Peace Office on 01752 260856 or a jp [at] plymouth-diocese [dot] org [dot] uk.