UoG supports national University of Sanctuary initiative
The University is hosting a free public lecture as part of its inaugural Sanctuary Week.
Supporting sanctuary seekers
Find out about University of Gloucestershire’s initiatives to welcome and promote the understanding of forced migration.
University of Gloucestershire is committed to creating a culture of welcome and promoting understanding of forced migration through education, research and outreach.
Michael Perham Sanctuary Scholarship
Named after the former Bishop of Gloucester and University Pro Chancellor, the late Rt. Revd Michael Perham, this scholarship scheme has been established in recognition of the additional barriers in accessing higher education faced by students from a forced migration background.
The scheme supports one new undergraduate and one new postgraduate taught student to study at the University each year by providing a fee waiver, bursary and additional pastoral support.
Full details of the scheme, including eligibility criteria and the application process, can be found on the Michael Perham Sanctuary Scholarship webpage.
University of Gloucestershire Sanctuary Support Fund
University of Gloucestershire Sanctuary Support Fund supports current students from a forced migration background with exceptional costs that affect their ability to succeed in their studies.
The fund is made possible through generous donations from the University community and the public. Full details of the scheme, including eligibility criteria and the application process, can be found on the Sanctuary Support Fund webpage.
If you would like to make a donation please visit the University of Gloucestershire Sanctuary Support Fund JustGiving page.
Student Action for Refugees (STAR) Student Society
Gloucestershire STAR is a group of students who come together to take action and raise awareness on issues related to forced displacement locally and elsewhere in the world.
As part of the Student Action for Refugees (STAR) movement, the student-led group is linked to a larger network of students raising awareness and taking action to support those affected by forced migration across the UK.
Recent initiatives include the ‘Conversations’ seminar series which brought together local activists, charity workers and campaigners to talk about their experiences working with people from displaced backgrounds, and a ‘Miles to Syria’ walking challenge which saw students walk the equivalent distance from Cheltenham to the Syrian border to raise money for local organisations supporting refugees and asylum seekers.
The society also arranged for the Displaced Child, a sculpture commissioned as part of the Walk with Amal movement, to visit the University.
Council for At-Risk Academics
The University is a member of the Council for At Risk Academics (CARA). This network facilitates collaboration between UK Higher Education institutions and persecuted and at-risk academics globally.
The University has supported a Fellow through this scheme to come and study towards a PhD at the University.
Community Partnerships
The University has long-standing partnerships with Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (GARAS) and Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees – organisations that support people from a forced migration background in our local communities.
Our joint activities range from an annual summer picnic for forced migrants resettled in our local area in collaboration with Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees, to the director of GARAS guest lecturing on forced migration to students on courses ranging from Social Work to Geography.
Further Information
If you are interested in finding out more about our sanctuary initiatives, please contact Jo Parkin: 01242 714593 or jparkin@glos.ac.uk
Case studies
Gloucestershire STAR student society supports humanitarian effort in Calais
Members of Gloucestershire STAR made a 230-mile humanitarian trip to Calais to support the grassroots organisation Refugee Community Kitchen in preparing nutritious food for hundreds of adults and children living in refugee camps.
The Society’s President Ellie Hill said: “While we had such a great time helping in the kitchen, it was a real reminder that there are so many people in need of support and compassion.
“We learnt so much about the approach to supporting displaced people during our time there, and it’s pushed us to advocate even more for better awareness and support of these communities.”
Postgraduate Sanctuary Scholarship ‘a priceless gift’
Mohammed Hadey Taresh, an asylum seeker who was being accommodated in Gloucestershire, was awarded the Postgraduate Michael Perham Sanctuary Scholarship to undertake MSc Cyber Security and went on to achieve a Distinction classification:
“I always feel honoured to have been chosen as the first postgraduate scholar of the Michael Perham Sanctuary Scholarship for the MSc Cyber Security. The unwavering faith of the selection committee in my abilities has been a constant source of motivation for me. I was determined to validate their choice and prove that their decision was indeed the right one.
“This scholarship has always been more than just financial support; it has been a priceless gift. It came into my life during a period of great challenges, serving as a beacon of hope and a powerful catalyst for personal and professional growth. It not only restored my confidence but also set me on a mission to give back to this country, my university, my family, and myself, by applying the knowledge and skills I acquired.
“I am committed to ensuring that the investment made in me bears fruit not only in my own life but also in the lives of those around me. This scholarship is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility.”
University Research Project promotes Media Literacy for Refugee and Asylum Seeking Women
The MedLIT project, led by University of Gloucestershire, developed and delivered a training course for refugee and asylum-seeking women across 6 partner countries in Europe.
The Project Lead, Professor Abigail Gardner said: “The project enabled women to work together on their media literacy skills in ways that gave them material help in their daily lives.”
Further information is available on the project website.
Undergraduate Sanctuary Scholarship creates life-changing opportunity
Dupe Ogunfeitimi moved to the UK from Nigeria and studied Mental Health Nursing at University of Gloucestershire, thanks to the Michael Perham Sanctuary Scholarship:
“I am sincerely honoured to be a recipient of the Sanctuary scholarship. I am grateful for your generosity both financially and morally. Without this scholarship, I would not have been able to attend the university as I am a parent-of-three and I have a limited ‘leave to remain’ without ‘recourse to public funds’, which means I am not entitled to a student loan.
“I have always wanted to be a mental health nurse since I came from Nigeria to England and I have always thought that I wouldn’t be able to go back to school so I almost gave up. When I found out I had got the scholarship, I was over the moon. This scholarship has allowed me to pursue my dream.”
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