REFUGEES joined civic leaders to celebrate a year of making Bolton a sanctuary for those fleeing war and persecution.

Nearly 100 people crammed into the Friends Meeting House to mark the first anniversary of the City of Sanctuary initiative coming to the town.

Speakers included several refugees who have made a new life in Bolton, a teacher who is working to develop Schools of Sanctuary, and the artistic director of the Octagon, Elizabeth Newman, who is keen to see it open its doors to all and be known as a ‘Theatre of Sanctuary’.

Yasmin Qureshi MP was also present to applaud the local work done for refugees by Brass, the Destitution Project and the Red Cross.

She thanked the 30 local organizations who have so far joined City of Sanctuary for their commitment to welcome to helping those who are forced to leave behind their home countries because of extreme violence and division.

Ian McHugh, the group’s treasurer, said: “There is such a contrast between the reality of the support we are receiving at City of Sanctuary from all different social classes, backgrounds and cultures, as opposed to the impression you often get in the media about resentment and hostility directed against refugees and asylum seekers.

“We are proud to be establishing a strong and active group in Bolton as one of a network of over 80 similar groups across the UK and Ireland and have plans to develop our work still further over the coming years.”

Showcasing the variety of cultures coming together for the event, guests were treated to Albanian and Bollywood dancing performances, and singers from Russia and Malawi.

Cllr Lynda Byrne, mayor of Bolton, told the meeting that Bolton has always been a place of welcome and hospitality to those in need.

Christine, a refugee living in Harwood, said: “It felt like a lot of friends together. We come from all different kinds of experience and backgrounds which have influenced us, yet in our diversity we make each other’s lives better.

“We are all so fortunate in that we are all unique, yet with a humanity that has much more in common than in being different. Sanctuary is for all of us, whether born here in this town or born a bit further away.

“It is possible to welcome each other, to tolerate people who may think a little differently to us, to listen to each other and to find common ground — food, music, life itself — and to live peaceably with each other. It makes life so much more exciting and fulfilling, much happier and healthier.”

For more information on the group, email info@bolton.cityofsanctuary.org