A conference planned for December is aiming to bring together the key organisations in Cornwall to discuss the importance of the county being a place of sanctuary for all people.

Sanctuary in Cornwall will take place on Saturday, December 1 and those attending are being invited to declare their school/ business/ community and organisation a place of sanctuary.

The conference, which is a partnership between the Diocese of Truro, All Saints Church Highertown, Cornwall Quakers, Cornwall Refugee Resettlement Network, Turning the Tide and RJ Working, will feature a range of speakers.

INTERNATIONAL SPEAKERS

Gulwali Passarlay, an Afghan political refugee, author, vice president of the United Afghan Peace Movement, Children’s Society commissioner on child poverty and advisor to Refugee Rights Europe, will be giving a talk on Human Spirit.

Caroline Virgo from the Clewer Initiative will be giving a talk on Human Self before diocesan safeguarding advisor Sarah Acraman takes on the subject.

Manda Brookman a social entrepreneur, lecturer, permaculturalist and activist on climate and social justice as well as founder of cafe Disruptif and the Cornwall: a Million Acts of Sanctuary initiatives, will be talking about Human Flourishing alongside Esme Page, founder of Cornwall Hugs Grenfell.

Paddy Dowling, an humanitarian photojournalist who works worldwide and contributes images and articles regularly to national newspapers, will be talking Human Suffering.

The event is being hosted by All Saints Church Highertown and attendees are currently on an invite only basis although tickets may become available to the general public nearer the time.