Responding to this week’s Statement in the Chamber by the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip, ‘Making Wales a Nation of Sanctuary’, Shadow Communities Minister Mark Isherwood AM highlighted the work being carried out by community organisations in North Wales to promote multicultural integration and to ensure the area is a place a sanctuary, and said it is vital that funding reaches these “cash-strapped change-makers”.
Mr Isherwood spoke about the work of the North Wales Association for Multicultural Integration (NWAMI), about Synergy in Flintshire, working together to make Flintshire a place of sanctuary for refugees and those fleeing violence and persecution, and about this Friday’s launch of the campaign to make Wrexham a ‘Town of Sanctuary’.
He said:
“We have long provided a safe haven for victims of persecution, violence, ethnic cleansing and genocide from across the World, and long may that remain the case, because if we ever lose that, we'll have lost our humanity and true identity.
“Much of the heavy lifting across Wales is already being done, often on a shoestring, by a myriad of third sector bodies and partnerships between the third sector and others. So, how do you propose to engage with such projects? I'll give you a few examples. I am Honorary President of the North Wales Association for Multicultural Integration, which has been delivering on this very agenda for a number of years. Last May, I hosted in the Assembly the ‘Let Us Integrate through Music and Art’ event put on by the North Wales Association for Multicultural Integration and Cwmbran-based KIRAN, the Knowledge based Inter-community Relationship and Awareness Network, aimed at removing barriers that keep people apart and promoting the mutual understanding that brings them together. Last May, I had a meeting in the Assembly with the Welsh Refugee Council, the North Wales Association for Multicultural Integration and the personal support service CAIS to talk about how we can work in partnership to break down barriers and increase understanding of each other's cultures.
“Last October, I spoke at NWAMI's ‘Annual Celebration of Integration Day’ event at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff. I closed the event by again emphasising the importance of integration by celebrating our glorious diversity together, building community cohesion and a tolerant society through cultural engagement. So, I hope you will outline further how your Plan (‘Nation of Sanctuary – Refugee and Asylum Seeker Plan’) will engage and embrace those projects already operating across the nation of Wales, doing this heavy lifting to build bridges from both ends.
“Finally just a question on how we can support within this agenda the local city and town initiatives that are also taking off. Last summer for example, Synergy in Flintshire, working together to make Flintshire a place of sanctuary for refugees and those fleeing violence and persecution, united not only Synergy members, but the Wales Cities of Sanctuary, Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team Wales, church, charity and action group representatives, Theatr Clwyd and Aura libraries and leisure—again, work on the ground that can further benefit from working with your Plan.
“This Friday in Wrexham is the launch of ‘Wrexham Town of sanctuary’, a campaign to make Wrexham a Town of Sanctuary and an invitation to local groups and individuals to get involved—a prime example of great work that you can benefit from by joining up the dots”.
Speaking outside the Chamber, Mr Isherwood added: “The roots of success lie in our communities. This will be a missed opportunity unless the funding reaches the cash-strapped change-makers working where it matters”.
