Portsmouth City of Sanctuary (PCoS) is an award-winning non-profit CIO charity. We are a grassroots humanitarian organisation. We are dedicated to supporting displaced people, who are refugees or asylum seekers sent by the UK Home Office to live in Portsmouth, Gosport and the surrounding areas.
Through direct action and compassion, our staff and volunteer teams work to provide practical support for people seeking asylum or refuge. This can include signposting, advocacy, or simply a listening ear at our Refugee Hub or at our pop-up Hub at emergency dispersal accommodation.
We are the only charity supporting asylum seekers in temporary accommodation in Portsmouth guiding families in need of school registrations, school uniforms and access to services within days of them arriving into the City.
We provide early orientation and have created a simple welcoming Sanctuary Guide for all sanctuary seekers, available at the Hub.
We work with individuals, community groups, schools, charities, and public services to create a culture of welcome across Portsmouth.
At the heart of our mission lies a commitment to upholding the dignity and independence of every individual we support. We believe in creating a welcoming environment for everyone regardless of where they are from. People seeking sanctuary are valued, their diversity celebrated, and they are shown respect and warmth.
Our goal is simple: to treat people with dignity, and to help Portsmouth be a place where everyone feels safe and welcome.
Our work is guided by three core values: Community, Compassion and Choice.
Vision
Our vision is to create a community where everyone feels truly welcome. We work to orientate newcomers with compassion, providing vital information and support to help them to rebuild their lives.
Through advocacy and empowerment, we equip people seeking sanctuary with the tools and knowledge they need to make informed choices about their future.
