Our Ambition to be a Theatre of Sanctuary

We’re applying to become a Theatre of Sanctuary.

Lawrence Batley Theatre is a registered charity whose mission is to be the creative heart of Huddersfield. We are here to do our community proud and build a stronger sense of community here in our local area of Kirklees. We value being inclusive and diverse, for years we have welcomed asylum seekers and refugees into our space with open arms. We give them safety, respect and self-worth when they are most in need. This work has been possible because of donations from individuals like you.

Our team is committed to making a difference for people seeking sanctuary. This year the whole company has untaken training on unconscious bias from Talawa Theatre Company and we heard from experts at DASH with lived experience on the challenges facing refugees and asylum seekers.

Last year 97,390 people applied to claim asylum in the UK, seeking a place of safety, information from the Refugee Council. 72% of the world’s refugees are living in countries neighbouring their country of origin, often in developing countries. The UK is home to approx. 1% of the 27.1 million refugees who were forcibly displaced across the world.

We want the shows and stories that we tell to include and reflect on the experience of sanctuary seekers. Last week we screened For Sama, a film by Waad al-Kataeb. It tells the story of her life through five years of the uprising in Aleppo, as she falls in love, gets married and gives birth to Sama, and has to wrestle with an impossible choice– whether or not to flee the city to protect her daughter's life.

In 2019, we co-produced How Not To Drown with ThickSkin, a painful yet uplifting story of a child asylum-seeker arriving in the UK. We have two brilliant shows with us in 2024 which also embed stories of sanctuary seekers.

Kirklees is home to a handful of organisations whose work is solely about supporting people seeking sanctuary. We have long-lasting well-established relationships with these groups, and we want to recognise this and the work we do to support those seeking sanctuary in our area, by becoming an official Theatre of Sanctuary. This year the company has invested £13,000 of free space for these two groups to support their work, as well as the expertise of our teams. Find out more details about the work below. You can help to support us by donating today.

Partnership with Ukrainian British Friendship Group

Many of you will already know that we have a very close relationship with the Ukrainian British Friendship Group, which is run by Ukrainian refugees from our theatre. The group provides a space for Ukrainian refugee children, as well as some British children and families, to come together in a safe space and take part in a variety of creative activities free of charge. Participants not only make meaningful links with other members of the local Ukrainian community but also with British children and families who help them to feel welcome and supported locally. Ukrainian children and adults take part in activities to help their English language development and creative activities to support mindfulness and positive mental health.

We’ve been hosting weekly sessions every Saturday, for 40+ members of the group since August 2022. For the first six months, the group had skilled tutors from the Ukrainian community who were volunteering their time to lead sessions. We wanted to see the work recognised and provide longer-term stability, so we applied for funding to pay the session leaders. We were successful in our application and so were able to pay the skilled tutors to fulfil their roles and afford to purchase additional materials such as art supplies, costume items and photocopies for English lessons.

As well as knowing our theatre as their home, the group are invited to shows and to perform, all supported by our dedicated team. In January they staged a new year festive celebration featuring lots of different forms of performance and Ukrainian traditions and celebrations. This event was a fundraiser, supported with free space, technical and producing expertise from our team, it raised over £400 for the group. An Easter Festival event took place in our Courtyard, supported by our producing team. It celebrated the joining of cultures with egg hunts, egg painting, processions, singing and dancing. The group have also performed at lots of events around Kirklees this year, always rehearsing in advance at the theatre. A real highlight was the groups performance at Kirkwood Festival, an annual fundraiser to support the local hospice, organised by one of the theatre team and hosted in our courtyard.

“Lawrence Batley Theatre became for us a real home and shelter… you gave us a home in which born a real family Ukrainian British Friendship Group.” Natalia Mirkun, Leader of The Ukrainian British Friendship Group

Partnership with IASK – Formerly known as DASH

For years now we have had a partnership with Huddersfield’s own charity who work to support asylum seekers in Kirklees. IASK, formerly known as DASH (Destitute Asylum Seekers Huddersfield), offer advice and welfare support to people seeking sanctuary.

They offer their clients Asylum Protection Advice to Level 2. Their Asylum casework team can provide support with asylum appeal applications, travel documents and can help clients to find solicitors. They support people early in their asylum journey to address the causes of crisis and prevent barriers to justice Asylum Guides are trained volunteers, matched up with asylum seekers to explain the asylum system in a way that is accessible and easy to understand.

They also support client’s welfare with help to access housing, health and education, GP registration and referral to mental health services. They help with access to school places and uniforms, as well as food and clothing for those in crisis.

We provide free space for their one-to-one meetings between support workers and clients. We invite their service users to shows and workshops and we host events on their behalf.

Recently we hosted their relaunch event in our prestigious main theatre space, screening a film For Sama and celebrating the new brand. IASK, standing for Immigration and Asylum Support Kirklees, which better fits the organisations perspective on their work. We’re committed to continuing our support and collaboration with IASK.