Projects are developed by members of the sanctuary community. This community includes students and academics who have a background of displacement alongside the wider local sanctuary community. The initiative also connects and collaborates with other universities, schools, streams within the city of sanctuary movement and community organisations.

Each project delivered is led by a paid project lead with lived experience of forced displacement. In the words of one project lead; “This [leading a project] experience was not just fulfilling; it was a beautiful reminder of the strength and resilience in our stories as well as the power of education in creating a sense of belonging. I feel grateful to have been part of a project that nurtures understanding and sparks change. I truly hope we can continue to uplift and share more voices with lived experiences, creating pathways for meaningful change in our community.”

Thanks to the generosity of Necessity, over the past couple of years the initiative has developed multiple projects including:

1. The Suitcase Project (https://www.ueasanctuary.org/the-suitcase/): led by Ana, this project explored concepts of loss and belonging through the eyes of those seeking sanctuary from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria, Türkiye and Egypt. A series of five films were made which connected with art installations based around the concepts of “luggage”. The exhibition and films were showcased at local, national and international events.
2. Families Beyond Boundaries (https://www.ueasanctuary.org/community-art-project:-families-beyond-boundaries): led by Olga, this project involved families separated by the war in Ukraine. Family members hand screen printed t-shirts and, through photography, created an exhibition where you observe family members wearing identical t-shirts across boundaries and warzones.
3.  Finding Home in Education (https://www.ueasanctuary.org/collaborative-project:-finding-‘home’-in-education): led by Alia, this project connected 17 students and academics from 9 different universities with artists to create a series of posters exploring the role that higher education can have in creating places of safety. The posters were then exhibited at art galleries, universities, schools and community spaces across the UK. An accompanying film was also made.
4.  Rediscovering Home (https://www.ueasanctuary.org/community-art-project.-rediscovering-home ). This short film, led by three refugee women, was semi-finalist to Remember the Future World Film Festival in Cannes. It intimately follows the stories of four individuals as they navigate forced displacement and asks the view to consider the meaning of “home”.
5. Sanctuary in the Kitchen Cookbook (https://www.ueasanctuary.org/community-project:-sanctuary-in-the-kitchen/) led by Fariha, this project has brought together 28 people from 10 different countries to celebrate the role of cooking and community following displacement. In Fariha’s words “this project is a shining example of the power of community, creativity and culture in supporting those who seek sanctuary. It offers dignity, purpose and deep connection at a time when many feel isolated and invisible”. A cookbook is currently being made to celebrate Sanctuary in the Kitchen events, where food is cooked and shared by all involved.