Newham Libraries win City of Sanctuary award for creating safe, welcoming spaces and vital support for refugees and people seeking asylum.
The award recognises Newham Library Service for its work and ongoing commitment to the vision of being a welcoming place of safety for all and proud to offer sanctuary to people fleeing violence and persecution.
The title was awarded by City of Sanctuary UK, a nationally coordinated network of organisations and services, including councils, universities, theatres and libraries that welcome and support refugees and people seeking asylum.
In recognising Newham, the City of Sanctuary said: “The commitment that you all have made to creating spaces for people with lived experience of seeking sanctuary to feel welcome and seen is phenomenal.”
Councillor Charlene McLean, Cabinet member for Resident Engagement and Resident Experience said: “I am delighted that our library service has been recognised in this way. Newham has a proud history and continuing commitment to supporting people fleeing conflict and persecution in their home countries. And we were recognised as a Borough of Sanctuary last year.
“The award supports our corporate plan and our vision for building a Fairer Newham, where everyone has the opportunity to reach their potential and thrive.”
Among the projects the Library Service offer to support refugees:
- Trauma-Informed Training for Frontline Staff: Ensuring staff are equipped to understand and respond to the effects of trauma in their interactions with sanctuary seekers.
- Library Cards for People with No Fixed Abode/Temporary Accommodation: Offering access to library services for individuals without permanent housing.
- Signposting Sanctuary Seekers to Services: Directing sanctuary seekers to essential services such as Welcome Newham.
- Community Languages Stock: A range of fiction and nonfiction books in the languages of Newham's residents, including Tamil, Urdu, Lithuanian, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Gujarati, Bengali, Hindi, and Punjabi.
- Welcome Newham: One-Stop Shop at Stratford Library: Weekly sessions providing support for Universal Credit queries, housing costs, child benefit queries, school admissions, homelessness support, BRP guidance, ESOL registration, job seeking assistance, affordability assessments for private rented sector accommodation, tenancy sustainment support, and GP registration.
Newham Libraries have served as a Warm Haven for the past three winters, with funding to continue them in 2025-2026. Whilst all our libraries have extended hours, additional activities and events, and offer free tea and coffee, Custom House Library particularly thrives during the colder months. As the most deprived area of Newham, many families in Custom House are low-income immigrants, and sanctuary seekers who arrive in Newham are often accommodated in local hotels. Consequently, we see a significant increase in the number of refugee families spending evenings and weekends in the library to keep warm and connect with others.
In recognition of the library's work with refugees, Aaron Becker, winner of the Carnegie Shadowers' Choice Award for Illustration, chose Custom House Library to receive a £500 donation from CILIP in 2024, as part of his win for his book, The Tree and the River.
