Many members of Redland Meeting are engaged as individuals in support work for refugees and asylum seekers in Bristol. In 2011, the Meeting signed the City of Sanctuary pledge: to promote a welcoming environment for refugees. In 2016, the Meeting decided take this a step further and to engage in “collective witness” on issues of asylum and refugee support.
A small group of Friends at Redland meeting are taking this forward on behalf of the whole. We are still working out what this means. For now, broadly, it is:
- to be a point of information about local and national activity,
- to be a support for members engaged in individual witness
and - to seek forms of engagement that are consistent with our beliefs and practice as Quakers.
We are now represented at the regular City of Sanctuary meetings, and were a significant and cheerful presence at the 2016 Human Rights Day Walk for Sanctuary on 10th December 16. Through, for example, screening of relevant films, we are finding opportunities for others in the Meeting to join the collective concern. We are open to ideas! We meet monthly.
If you would like to know more, please contact: redland.clerk@bristolquakers.org.uk