HOSTING

Sanctuary Hosting is a hosting scheme that provides temporary accommodation for refugees, asylum seekers, and vulnerable migrants at risk of homelessness across the Thames Valley by matching them with volunteer hosts who offer a free bed and a warm welcome. This gives guests a chance to tackle the causes of their homelessness. All of our hosts and guests are in turn supported by a team of dedicated volunteers.

A Host is someone who generously accommodates a refugee, migrant or asylum seeker - a ‘guest’ - in their own home. It is up to the host to decide how long they are willing to accommodate someone. This could be for just a few days – or considerably longer. To find out more, click on the button below.

MORE ABOUT HOSTING

HOMES FOR UKRAINE

You can read our response to the government’s newly-launched ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme here, as well as some useful guidance on hosting and how to get involved.

HOMES FOR UKRAINE

Do you want to help a homeless refugee or migrant?

Then become a host!

Click to find out more.

Are you a homeless refugee or migrant?

You are welcome to apply to become a guest.

Click to find out more.

Are you helping a homeless refugee or migrant?

Then click here and complete a quick referral form to begin the process of finding them a host.

TESTIMONIALS

“Looking back at our hosting experiences, I would say that we learned as much from our guests as they did from us. For anyone thinking of becoming a host, I would recommend it. You determine how long the arrangement lasts and if, for a while, it is not convenient to host anyone, you just need to say.”

A host in Oxford

“Thanks to Sanctuary Hosting hosts and support workers for providing me with a roof over my head, food, and now a laptop, which is helping me to interact with the world, continue my studies and to look towards the future.”

A guest in Abingdon

“From the hosting experience, I feel much more able to understand the issues facing asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in the UK, my guest made it more real. I understand the process much more”

Grant, a host in Milton Keynes

Hope there can be places like you everywhere in the world, places where in the middle of nowhere people might find hope and courage to fight for the future.

A guest in Reading

“Our experience with our guest has been so rewarding. We’ll remember each other and stay friends. We wanted to offer a chance to someone who’d been through a bad time to get back on their feet, and that’s exactly what’s happened.”

Matt, one of our Oxford hosts

In the four years of working with Sanctuary Hosting, I have seen guests go on to do amazing things. One person is midway through a degree in medicine, another former guest is now a chartered accountant. I think of one lady who experienced so much suffering in her childhood and adulthood, and really struggled to accept the kindness of our volunteers. She is now living contentedly in her own home, and drops by the office with gifts and love whenever she can. These are inspiring stories of resilience that show what people can imagine and go on to achieve.

Sarah Wahby, Service Manager, Sanctuary Hosting

I breathe. It gives me relaxation and comfort.

A guest in Oxford

We are very grateful to the team at Sanctuary Hosting – their combined efforts and expertise make it effortless for us to accommodate in our home- someone in need.

Lynda & AndrewHosts, Milton Keynes

“Sanctuary means a golden word for me, as Sanctuary Hosting has been really helpful to me, especially during this pandemic, doing superb job. I have been so happy staying with the hosts. They have been really kind and helpful to me. I’m really happy where I live now.”

A guest in Oxford

I do more things by myself too as I do listening music while I am running, reading books, word link puzzles, playing PES20 on my phone & cycling further than normal, lot other things. I think those kind things are really good and helpful to my mental health during the lockdown.

A guest in Oxfordshire

“I’ve met some incredible people who have come from very hard situations. To see their resilience is amazing.”

Harriet, a guest support worker

I would love to do more volunteering, but I have a busy full time job which makes it difficult - but what I do have to give are material resources. I am lucky enough to live in a flat that I own…so it seemed an ideal way to help in a small way.

Josie FieldingHost in Oxford

We are aware of the desperate situation some displaced people find themselves in through no fault of their own and we want to help in the small way we can, by sharing our spare room and hospitality.

Hosts in Oxford

“Why host? Humanity – enough said.”

Hosts in Oxford

I really felt that it was so far out of my comfort zone- and I was very surprised that I’ve managed it actually. I think most hosts feel that- they feel quite concerned. You have a lot of concerns at the beginning, which I’ve never found to have turned out at all

a Host in Oxford

“Hosting is providing something which actually is only a mild inconvenience to you and it makes a phenomenal difference to the person you’re helping and it’s a very little thing to do really.”

A host in Oxford

“From the hosting experience, I feel much more able to understand the issues facing asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in the UK. My guest made it more real. I understand the process much more now.”

Grant, a host in Milton Keynes

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

VOLUNTEER

We need volunteers in the community who can give up some time each week to support either the host or the guest in the hosting placement. Our support workers provide a vital link between hosts, guests and our small staff team.

If you are interested in learning more about the different roles on offer, please click the button below for more information.

MORE ABOUT VOLUNTEERING

DONATE

If you do not have the capacity to host or volunteer and want to help, please consider donating.

We are asking for 250 people to agree to pay £10 per month by standing order. This will enable us to be entirely self-sufficient as an organisation and therefore able to focus entirely on delivering the highest quality hosting service.

DONATE

DID YOU KNOW?

29,727

The number of nights made available by Sanctuary Hosting to homeless refugees and migrants, since we began in July 2015.

Sanctuary Hosting has helped people from 27 different countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Burma, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Eritrea, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, India, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Uganda & Zimbabwe.

GET INVOLVED

You can get involved with Sanctuary Hosting in so many ways, here are just a few:

Got a spare bed to offer? Become a host! Hosts urgently needed in High Wycombe, Milton Keynes, Reading & Oxford.
Want to help guests settle, find their way around and access important services? Step up as a support worker!
Are you a keen and creative fund-raiser? We need you!

Interested? Get in touch, get involved!

GET IN TOUCH

HOSTING

HOMES FOR UKRAINE

TESTIMONIALS

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

VOLUNTEER

DONATE

DID YOU KNOW?

GET INVOLVED

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