The Archer Project is one of 55 local organisations to sign a letter from Sheffield City of Sanctuary addressed to the Prime Minister, Home Secretary, Sheffield MPs, and Council Leaders – urging them to reject scapegoating and join those who have signed the letter in building a future rooted in welcome, justice, and solidarity.
Alongside City of Sanctuary and fellow signatories, The Archer Project adds our voice to the call for safety and welcome for all.
The letter reads as follows:
City of Sanctuary Sheffield
The Sanctuary, 37-39 Chapel Walk, Sheffield, S1 2PD
19th May 2025
Dear Prime Minister, Home Secretary, Sheffield MPs, and Council Leaders,
Re: Urgent concerns about the Government's new immigration proposals
We write as cultural institutions, youth groups, community organisations, healthcare providers, migrant justice groups, trade unions, churches and faith groups, small businesses, arts organisations, education providers, media organisations, grassroots campaigners, elected councillors, and communities from across Sheffield and beyond.
We believe in a country where people are safe, welcomed, and treated with dignity. The Government's new immigration proposals, and the rhetoric accompanying them, take us further away from this vision.
Let's be clear: yes, there is deep inequality in our society. But it is not caused by people seeking sanctuary. It is the result of political decisions: to underinvest in our public services, to allow a housing crisis to deepen, and to prioritise the super-rich over working people. Scapegoating migrants is a dangerous distraction; one that divides communities, fuels xenophobia, and hides the real roots of inequality.
It's been less than a year since towns across the UK, including Sheffield, faced far-right violence that targeted people seeking sanctuary and communities of colour. We have seen first-hand the harm caused when government rhetoric and policies encourage hostility.
These are not the actions of a country committed to building stronger communities. They are the actions of one trying to blame the most marginalised instead of addressing systemic failures. These policies isolate, exclude and punish people who are ready to contribute. People who deserve protection and a fair chance, not hostility.
There is a better way.
In Sheffield, we see every day how people seeking sanctuary enrich our city: as carers, students, volunteers, neighbours, colleagues, and friends. We know that when people are welcomed, they contribute creatively and help build thriving communities. When people are properly supported and included – to study, to work, to live in a stable home – they thrive. Safety turns into belonging.
We call on politicians, the media and our communities to reject scapegoating and to join us in building a future rooted in welcome, justice and solidarity.
Signed by the organisations below,
Andro and Eve
Angela Argenzio, Green Party Councillor for Broomhill and Sharrow Vale
Anti Trafficking and Labour Exploitation Unit
Archer Project
Arts Catalyst
ASSIST Sheffield
Burngreave Surgery
Care4Calais South Yorkshire
Chile Solidarity Network
Citizens Advice Sheffield
City of Sanctuary Sheffield
Cooperation Sheffield
Festival of Debate
Football Unites Racism Divides (FURD)
Fresh Grassroots Rainbow Community
Housing Justice
Ibby Ullah, Labour and Co-operative Councillor for Nether Edge and Sharrow
Juno Books
Medact Sheffield
Migrants Organise Yorkshire
Minesh Parekh, Labour and Co-operative Councillor for Crookes and Crosspool
Nabeela Mowlana, Labour and Co-operative Councillor for Park and Arbourthorne
Nether Green Methodist Church
NEU Sheffield
Nighat Basharat, Labour Councillor for Nether Edge and Sharrow
North Derbyshire Refugee Support Group
Now Then
Open Kitchen Social Club
Opus
Page Hall Medical Center
RivelinCo
Rob Bannister, Labour Councillor for Graves Park
Ruth Milsom, Labour and Cooperative Councillor for Crookes & Crosspool
SACMHA Health And Social Care
SAVTE
Sheffield Anti Racist and Anti Fascist Coordinating Committee
Sheffield Community Land Trust
Sheffield Futures
Sheffield Hallam UCU
Sheffield Solidarity Sessions
Sheffield Tenants Union
Sheffield Trade Union Council
Sheffield We Demand Change
South Yorks NUJ
South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice
St Andrews Psalter Lane Church
Stand & Be Counted Theatre
Stand Up to Racism
Studio Polpo
SYMAAG
The House Skatepark
Unite South Yorkshire NE 403 CY& NFP branch
VVIDY (Voice of Voiceless Immigration Detainees Yorkshire
Xenia
Yorkshire Migrants Solidarity Movement
