Issue - meetings

Having considered an officer report, and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Democracy, Refugees and Accountability, Councillor Kevin

Bonavia, and by the Chief Executive of the Lewisham Refugee and Migrant

Network, Rosario Guimba-Stewart, and by a resettled family member, the

Mayor and Cabinet agreed that:

(1) the context for the development of a corporate strategy on sanctuary be

noted;

(2) the proposed strategy and the action planning framework it governs be

noted; and

(3) the strategy and associated framework be approved.

The report was introduced by Councillor Kevin Bonavia who underlined

Lewisham’s existing commitments to supporting refugees with the proposal

for a Sanctuary Strategy being the latest manifestation of continual efforts to

meet the needs of refugees. Councillor Bonavia highlighted and thanked the

Voluntary Sector in Lewisham for all their assistance in supporting refugees.

The Cabinet was addressed by Waeed Adnan Almbasbes, who explained she

had been a primary school teacher in Syria but had spent 7 years in a refugee

camp in Jordan before coming to Lewisham a year ago. She expressed

gratitude for the welcome and support she had received in Lewisham and told

how well her children were adapting and of the steps her husband had taken

towards gainful employment.

A further presentation was offered by Rosario Guimba Stewart, the Chief

Executive of the Lewisham Refugee and Migrant who said she had been in

post since 2018. She explained the work undertaken by her organisation

which was delighted to join with the Council and Voluntary Sector bodies in

assisting refugees.

Having considered an officer report, and a presentation by the Cabinet

Member for Democracy, Refugees and Accountability, Councillor Kevin

Bonavia, and by the Chief Executive of the Lewisham Refugee and Migrant

Network, Rosario Guimba-Stewart, and by a resettled family member, the

Mayor and Cabinet, for the reasons set out in the report and by a roll call vote

of 10-0:

RESOLVED that:

(1) the context for the development of a corporate strategy on sanctuary be

noted;

(2) the proposed strategy and the action planning framework it governs be

noted; and

(3) the strategy and associated framework be approved.