A petition calling for Sheffield City Council to urgently tackle issues faced by asylum seekers has surpassed 200 signatures.
Started by South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group (SYMAAG) on 2 February 2023, it lists a number of demands, including the appointment of a designated councillor to lead action on migrant-related issues.
This follows clashes between far-right and anti-fascist protest groups outside a hotel housing migrants in Rotherham last Saturday (18 February 2023).
Emma Rattenbury, spokesperson for South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group said: “It is absolutely appalling that the far right are targeting places where asylum seekers are living.
“I certainly think that if Sheffield City Council had a migrant champion then it would signal that we were taking this issue seriously in Sheffield.”
The Migrant Champion Network is a national project initiated by the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants. It aims to help councillors across the UK take practical action to support migrants in their local area.
In the petition, SYMAAG said: “Sheffield has a proud history of welcoming people seeking safety from war and persecution, including being the first City of Sanctuary in the UK.
At least eight local authorities in the UK have appointed a councillor to act as Migrant Champion, tasked with leading actions on the rights of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees.
SYMAAG’s petition said Sheffield City Council is yet to take these actions.
The national Migrant Champions Network will launch on 23 February 2023.
