North Tyneside schools celebrated for their work supporting people seeking asylum
5 schools have been named as Schools of Sanctuary this year
A group of North Tyneside schools will be using their skills to teach more in the area to support and understand the needs of asylum seekers.
5 schools have been named as "Schools of Sanctuary" - recognising their solidarity with, and welcome for people fleeing war and persecution.
They've been supported by those schools which won the award last year - working with refugee Charity Walking With in Wallsend.
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.
The five schools in North Tyneside are:
• Christ Church C. of E. Primary School
• Marine Park First School
• Rockcliffe First School
• St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School
• Wallsend St Peter’s C. of E. Primary School
They have been working with Walking With, a refugee support charity in Wallsend.
Clare Campbell is the Schools of Sanctuary Local Lead at Walking With and tells us the sort of things the schools learn;
"What kind of things can we put in place to make the transition a little bit easier, for the families arriving.
"Most families aren't going to arrive and start a new school in September, as most children would, they might arrive in February...
"They might arrive with very little equipment, they might not have internet in their house."
Clare also explains they try and break down the myths around people seeking asylum;
"Lots of people feel that people are coming over here to work and take jobs - as an asylum seeker you can't work.
"You're not allowed to work for at least the first year, and after that it's got to be very specific shortage jobs.
"It's not a choice - you don't get on a boat and go somewhere or leave by whatever means you have to unless you really have to
"And also think about what people are leaving behind - people have left behind their homes, their jobs, their livelihoods, their families...
"A country they really do want to go back to but they physically can't for whatever reason."