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°Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï Social Charter was launched, setting out a range of principles to guide and inspire our engagement with local partners - not least the principles of equality and social justice.

Queen’s University announced plans to officially seek University of Sanctuary recognition, including new measures to support at-risk academics and students.

Sanctuary work across °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï was identified and documented, and the Our Path to Sanctuary website was designed and launched. This evolving resource continues to grow, reflecting the University’s ongoing commitment.

°Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Ian Greer, and Mehrshad Esfandiari, Chair of Belfast City of Sanctuary, came together in a significant gesture of synergy and solidarity, signing a pledge to affirm Queen’s University’s commitment to the vision of City of Sanctuary.

The internal Path to Sanctuary Operational Group was established and met for the first time. It has since met three times a year.

The °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï Sanctuary Activity webpage was developed, showcasing the work of Queen’s students, staff, and collaborators.

A series of Sanctuary consultation workshops was designed and delivered, engaging more than 100 migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers living in hotels and dispersal accommodation. Networks were expanded and Sanctuary mailing lists were created.

A full-time, permanent University of Sanctuary Coordinator post was created and filled, based in the Civic Engagement Team.

Several projects were funded through the University's CiviContribution Fund, enabling staff and students to deliver diverse and impactful projects. Among these were Sanctuary-related initiatives such as Sustaining SELF, Art for Change, Show and Tell, Homework Clubs, Refugees Welcome at QFT, and LGBTQueen’s in support of Rainbow Refugees NI.

The Sanctuary Coffee Mornings at °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï began with a pilot of four sessions, welcoming members of the Sanctuary network to the University for tea, coffee, buns, and information sharing.

Sanctuary Coffee Mornings continued with a series of 16 weekly sessions, connecting individuals with a wide range of services inside and outside °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï.

As part of the University of Sanctuary assessment process, Queen’s hosted an on-site visit and appraisal call. Members of Places of Sanctuary Ireland and Belfast City of Sanctuary visited to learn about our work and tour Sanctuary spaces, while a wide range of °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï staff and external partners presented to the Universities of Sanctuary steering group.

Queen’s an official Sanctuary in its 180th Anniversary Year. The award status comes as the University officially launched its 180th anniversary year, hosting a special event with over 250 attendees, celebrating the impact the University has on communities locally, nationally and internationally.

Refugee Week at °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï was celebrated with Northern Ireland Now: Contemporary Collecting (a Nerve Centre screening), the official University of Sanctuary Celebrations, the Big Sanctuary Information Fair (in partnership with the Consular Corps NI, Advice NI, and the NI Housing Executive), and participation in the Refugee Picnic.

The Sanctuary Summer Pilot at °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï was launched, featuring academic English classes (with the Academic English Service), a Design Jam session (Graduate School), and CV-writing workshops (Careers, Employability and Skills).

The °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï Sanctuary Roadshow 2025–2026 was launched, beginning with a visit to members of the ANAKA Women’s Collective at the GROW NI community garden in North Belfast.

First edition of °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï Belfast's Global Greetings, a unique opportunity for participants to learn how to welcome their neighbours in 16 different languages, including British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language.

Queen’s University Belfast celebrates achieving official ‘Civic University’ standing with a marketplace showcase event, and the publication of its formal Civic Agreement.

Queen’s University is awarded the Advance HE Race Equality Charter (REC) Bronze Award for our work in addressing racial inequalities and sustained commitment to building a more inclusive environment for staff and students.