Statement by Vale of White Horse District Council on Sanctuary and Fair Treatment
Our unique and diverse communities are one of our most valuable assets – and we are proud of them. To protect our sense of belonging for all communities, we will challenge and address disinformation, suspicion, and intolerance wherever it occurs.
We will do all we can to ensure everyone living in the Vale of White Horse is treated fairly and we will continue to provide sanctuary to those who need it.
Oxfordshire is proud to be the first county of sanctuary, committed to ensuring that everyone who lives here, whether newly arrived or long settled, is treated with equity and valued. Alongside our communities we’ve stepped up to support families who contributed to the UK’s military operations in Afghanistan as well as providing heart-felt sanctuary for those fleeing conflict in Ukraine.
Fair treatment is embedded in how we provide our services, for example how we allocate social housing, provide financial help for those with disabilities, stand against hate crime and recognise our LGBTQ+ community.
Working closely with our partners, from our work as part of the Community Safety Partnership to address crime and protect vulnerable people, to our proactive role in the Oxfordshire Migration Partnership, we continue to support all our valued communities.
Cllr Bethia Thomas, Leader of the Vale of White Horse District Council said:
“Belonging in the Vale – whether your family has been here for generations, or you arrived last month – is at the heart of everything we do. We are all a part of what makes the Vale such a good place to live.
“We want to ensure that everyone in the Vale is treated fairly, feels valued and welcomed.
“We recognise that residents have endured successive crises in recent years including Covid and the cost-of-living emergency. Alongside our communities we’ve provided sanctuary to those fleeing conflict and for families who helped our troops in Afghanistan.
“We want to reassure people that support for all our communities and especially those who are most vulnerable remain a crucial focus of our work – including practical support and advice for those who are struggling.
“There are serious risks to our society if disinformation, suspicion, and the intolerance it generates goes unchallenged. Therefore, we’ll continue to work with our partners to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone – so we can build healthy, thriving and inclusive communities.”
Cllr Andy Foulsham, Cabinet Member for Policy and Programmes at Vale of White Horse District Council said: “Travelers made their way along the Ridgeway over two thousand years ago. Many travelled on, but some chose to stay, and we see their marks on the landscape in hill forts, barrows and our beloved White Horse.
“Centuries later, monks travelled through the Thames Valley from Paris to Oxford – and some settled in Abingdon, founded an abbey and started collecting tolls by the river crossing.
“And over the last 80 years we have found still more migrants arriving, from those who now work at research centres at Harwell, Culham or nearby Universities, to the guy who cut my hair last weekend.
“That’s why “belonging” is so essential – and to say that you belong here, whether you have roots going back generation, or arrived last month.
“We’ll continue to do our part to support and provide sanctuary for the most vulnerable arrivals in our district as part of our longstanding international responsibilities – including those fleeing Hong Kong, war-torn Ukraine or those who supported the UK’s military operations in Afghanistan.”
ENDS
The statement follows the passing of the ‘Sanctuary and Fair treatment for All’ motion at Council on Wednesday 10 December.
Notes to editor:
See our website for full wording of the motion
See our Diversity and inclusion strategy on our website and our Diversity and social campaigns calendar
See our press release Roadshow celebrates equality and diversity across the districts
See our press release Further support for new families who contributed to the UK’s military operations in Afghanistan
See our press release The Vale steps up to help families who supported the UK’s military operations in Afghanistan
ENDS
