The 10th anniversary celebration of Birmingham’s City of Sanctuary status was a powerful testament to the solidarity, culture and resilience of the community. The event brought together city officials, civil society organisations, artists and citizens to celebrate Birmingham’s long-standing commitment to welcoming refugees and developing a culture of sanctuary in the city.
Councillor John Cotton, Leader of Birmingham City Council, addressed the participants with appropriate words, while the event was further enhanced by the presence and support of the Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Zafar Iqbal MBE, which once again confirmed the city’s strong commitment to the values of inclusion, solidarity and shared responsibility.
Bosnia UK Network contributed to the program through a presentation by Dr. Anes Cerić, who spoke about the journey of the Bosnian community from its arrival in Birmingham in the 1990s to the present day, highlighting decades of work on rebuilding lives, integration, and active contribution to the social, cultural, and economic development of the United Kingdom.
It was emphasized that the mission of Bosnia UK Network was never limited to one community. Although the organization played a key role in supporting Bosnians and Herzegovinians after the war and forced displacement, over time it developed knowledge, capacity and solidarity directed towards other communities that have experienced war and forced migration. Today, Bosnian House represents a vibrant and open community center that provides support to Ukrainian, Syrian, Afghan and many other newly arrived communities that carry the trauma of war and displacement.
This long-standing work and influence has been recognized by institutions in the United Kingdom and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as particularly confirmed by the opening of the Honorary Consulate of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Bosnian House in Birmingham — a significant symbol of trust, partnership and international recognition.
The cultural program strongly evoked the spirit of refuge and togetherness. An inspiring performance by the KUD Fahira Hadžetić, through authentic Bosnian folk dances, reminded of the strength of cultural identity and the importance of preserving heritage while building new lives. The evening was further enriched by performances by the St Vincent’s School Choir, the In Her Shoes Choir, the Vinochock Orchestra, the Zirak Group, as well as dramatic contributions from the Stories of Hope and Home project, and performances by schools and community groups across Birmingham promoting the values of refuge and solidarity.
Representatives from organisations such as Asylum to Citizenship , Refugee and Migrant Centre (RMC) , Spring Housing , Journey Group (LGBT+) , as well as Birmingham City Council’s Refugee Week team, demonstrated the breadth of collaboration that forms the foundation of Birmingham’s identity as a true City of Sanctuary.
At the end of the evening, sincere gratitude was extended to the City of Birmingham, its leaders, institutions and citizens who continuously stand with all those seeking safety, dignity and a new home.
Lucy Clark, Programme Officer in Birmingham City Council’s Resettlement and Migration Team, said:
“I was honoured to host an event to mark 10 years of Birmingham as a City of Sanctuary. This event reflected Birmingham’s identity as a city built on diversity, compassion and resilience. Guests celebrated the contributions of refugees, asylum seekers and communities from around the world who have enriched the city’s cultural, economic and social life.
It is especially important to give space to people with personal experience of migration and refugees to speak for themselves about their ways of acceptance and belonging, because such testimonies are more powerful than anyone else’s mediation.”
Birmingham’s story is one of welcome, resilience and shared humanity — and this event was a proud reflection of that enduring value.
