Southwark Council is strengthening its status as a 'borough of sanctuary' by integrating community sports, cultural events, and policy advocacy to support asylum seekers, aiming to dismantle barriers and foster inclusion in London.
Southwark Council in London is advancing its ambition to become a "borough of sanctuary" for asylum seekers through a range of inclusive initiatives aimed at improving housing, education, health, and financial support services. Central to this effort is the Southwark Sanctuary Framework, a comprehensive programme running until 2027, which seeks to create a welcoming environment for migrants regardless of their immigration status and includes a commitment to lobby the government to remove restrictions that currently prevent asylum seekers from working before securing refugee status.
One notable community-building event under this framework took place in June 2024—a football match organised by the Southwark Refugee Communities Forum in partnership with Millwall Community Trust. The fixture featured teams of asylum seekers from two local accommodation centres, the Best Western Hotel in Peckham and Driscoll House on the Old Kent Road. Hosted at Burgess Park during Refugee Week, the closely contested match, which ended in a 3-2 victory for the Best Western team, provided participants with new Millwall Football Club kits and culminated in a social gathering with a barbecue and traditional Eritrean coffee. Jason Vincent, equality, diversity and inclusion lead at Millwall Community Trust, highlighted the importance of football in bringing together players who had never met before, fostering camaraderie and a sense of community.
The event was part of broader celebrations during Refugee Week 2024, themed "Our Home," which aimed to honour the resilience, creativity, and contributions of refugees. The week included various activities, culminating in a family-friendly celebration at St Giles Church featuring dance and food. Southwark’s efforts extend beyond sport and cultural events; the council’s libraries have become the first in London to receive the prestigious Library of Sanctuary status, offering free membership to both refugees and asylum seekers, further embedding a spirit of inclusivity.
Southwark’s refugee population is significant, with council data revealing that 40% of its residents were born outside the UK and that 2,363 asylum seekers living in the borough receive state support. The council offers comprehensive aid including accommodation, meals, a subsistence allowance, access to healthcare (with asylum seekers able to register with a GP without proof of address or immigration status), English classes, and assistance with school placements for children. Public transport concessions are also available for eligible asylum seekers, reflecting a holistic strategy to support integration.
The council’s pledge to lobby for reform of asylum policies is particularly notable given the current restrictions blocking asylum seekers from employment for at least their first year in the UK. Southwark asserts that such barriers hinder full societal participation for prolonged periods, and it aims to influence national policy to enable asylum seekers to contribute more actively to their communities.
This initiative aligns with a wider UK movement; the City of Sanctuary UK scheme, which Southwark has joined, has already seen over 100 councils sign up, each paying a modest membership fee of £150 for three years. The scheme’s website underscores its mission to encourage inclusivity, solidarity, and compassion across communities, schools, libraries, and theatres for people affected by displacement.
Southwark’s approach merges community engagement through sport and culture with robust policy advocacy and practical support services, positioning it as a leading borough in creating sanctuary and opportunity in London for asylum seekers.
📌 Reference Map:
- Paragraph 1 – [1] Express, [2] GB News, [7] Southwark Council
- Paragraph 2 – [1] Express, [3] Southwark Refugee Communities Forum, [4] Millwall Community Trust
- Paragraph 3 – [5] Southwark Refugee Communities Forum, [1] Express
- Paragraph 4 – [1] Express, [7] Southwark Council
- Paragraph 5 – [1] Express, [7] Southwark Council
- Paragraph 6 – [1] Express, [2] GB News
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is based on a press release from Southwark Council, dated 18 September 2024, announcing the council's recognition as a 'Borough of Sanctuary' and detailing initiatives to support asylum seekers. ([southwark.gov.uk](https://www.southwark.gov.uk/news/2024/southwark-recognised-supporting-refugees-and-named-borough-sanctuary?utm_source=openai)) The football match between asylum seekers from Best Western Hotel and Driscoll House took place on 22 June 2024, as part of Refugee Week celebrations. ([southwarkrefugeecommunitiesforum.org](https://www.southwarkrefugeecommunitiesforum.org/football-match-june-2024?utm_source=openai)) The Express article was published on 28 October 2025, indicating that the content is relatively fresh. However, the narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. The Express article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([gbnews.com](https://www.gbnews.com/news/southwark-council-asylum-seekers-football-borough-of-sanctuary?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The quotes attributed to Jason Vincent, equality, diversity, and inclusion lead at Millwall Community Trust, are consistent across multiple sources, including the Express article, the Millwall Community Trust's website, and the Southwark Refugee Communities Forum's website. ([millwallcommunity.org.uk](https://www.millwallcommunity.org.uk/news/1091-mct-in-partnership-with-southwark-refugees-communities-forum-hosted-a-football-match-at-burgess-park-as-part-of-refugee-week?utm_source=openai)) This consistency suggests that the quotes are accurately reported.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Express, a reputable UK newspaper. However, the Express has been known to publish sensationalist content in the past, which raises some concerns about the reliability of this specific report. The information about the football match and the 'Borough of Sanctuary' initiative is corroborated by other reputable sources, including the Millwall Community Trust's website and the Southwark Refugee Communities Forum's website. ([millwallcommunity.org.uk](https://www.millwallcommunity.org.uk/news/1091-mct-in-partnership-with-southwark-refugees-communities-forum-hosted-a-football-match-at-burgess-park-as-part-of-refugee-week?utm_source=openai))
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative describes a football match between asylum seekers from two local accommodation centres, Best Western Hotel and Driscoll House, organised by the Southwark Refugee Communities Forum in partnership with Millwall Community Trust. The event took place in June 2024 during Refugee Week, which aligns with the council's commitment to becoming a 'Borough of Sanctuary' and supporting asylum seekers. The match's outcome, a 3-2 victory for the Best Western team, and the subsequent social gathering with a barbecue and traditional Eritrean coffee, are detailed in multiple sources. ([southwarkrefugeecommunitiesforum.org](https://www.southwarkrefugeecommunitiesforum.org/football-match-june-2024?utm_source=openai)) The narrative's claims are plausible and supported by evidence from reputable sources.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is based on a press release from Southwark Council, dated 18 September 2024, announcing the council's recognition as a 'Borough of Sanctuary' and detailing initiatives to support asylum seekers. ([southwark.gov.uk](https://www.southwark.gov.uk/news/2024/southwark-recognised-supporting-refugees-and-named-borough-sanctuary?utm_source=openai)) The football match between asylum seekers from Best Western Hotel and Driscoll House took place on 22 June 2024, as part of Refugee Week celebrations. ([southwarkrefugeecommunitiesforum.org](https://www.southwarkrefugeecommunitiesforum.org/football-match-june-2024?utm_source=openai)) The Express article was published on 28 October 2025, indicating that the content is relatively fresh. The quotes attributed to Jason Vincent, equality, diversity, and inclusion lead at Millwall Community Trust, are consistent across multiple sources, suggesting accurate reporting. While the Express is a reputable UK newspaper, it has been known to publish sensationalist content in the past, which raises some concerns about the reliability of this specific report. However, the information about the football match and the 'Borough of Sanctuary' initiative is corroborated by other reputable sources, including the Millwall Community Trust's website and the Southwark Refugee Communities Forum's website. ([millwallcommunity.org.uk](https://www.millwallcommunity.org.uk/news/1091-mct-in-partnership-with-southwark-refugees-communities-forum-hosted-a-football-match-at-burgess-park-as-part-of-refugee-week?utm_source=openai)) The narrative's claims are plausible and supported by evidence from reputable sources. Therefore, the overall assessment is a PASS with high confidence.
