Barnsley Borough City of Sanctuary  are joining 225 local groups from across the UK to sign an open letter today (5 December) to tell the Home Secretary that they reject her ‘ruthless new plans to erode refugee rights’.

The letter is part of a week of ‘Communities Together for Refugees’ action that kicks off around the country today, organised in collaboration with communities and Together With Refugees.

The letter, responding to the government’s plans ‘Restoring Order and Control’ announced on 17 November, states: “Every day we witness people stepping up – opening their homes, volunteering their time, speaking out for fairness and supporting one another. We know that your cruel new plans do not represent us, our communities or who we are as a country.”

It finishes: “We – communities across the UK – are standing together to reject your plans. Now is not the time to play into the hands of those seeking to build them-and-us division between local communities and refugees. Now is the time to focus on what unites us, find common ground and offer our humanity to those who have already suffered enough.”

Steve Ruffle, Secretary  of Barnsley Borough City of Sanctuary, who signed the open letter, said: “We are proud to join other local groups across the country to tell the Home Secretary that we reject her cruel plans. Every day we see the compassion and care that people who have sought safety here receive in our community. Many local people open their homes, give their time and donate because they believe refugees need our support and care.

“The far-right attempts to spread fear do not represent us, our work and the people in our community who give us their support. That’s why this weekend, we stand together with refugees with respect, dignity, and hope.”