Our Commitment to Sanctuary
At the Roundhouse, we believe creativity should be accessible to everyone – regardless of background, immigration status or life experience.
As part of our mission to break down barriers for underrepresented communities, we’re proud to have been recognised as a Theatre of Sanctuary – celebrating our commitment to supporting young people seeking refuge through creativity, partnership and inclusive opportunity.
What is a Theatre of Sanctuary?
The Theatre of Sanctuary award is a national designation by City of Sanctuary UK and Counterpoints Arts. It recognises arts organisations that go above and beyond to:
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Foster a culture of welcome for refugees and asylum seekers
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Raise awareness of sanctuary issues through creative work
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Collaborate meaningfully with people with lived experience
“We can’t wait to see more of the work to come. The commitment the Roundhouse has made to elevating lived experience is phenomenal.”
— Ashley Beckett, City of Sanctuary UK“Our young people are always astonished when they see the studio spaces. It’s also really special for the Roundhouse to come into our space. Partnership builds bridges.”
— Maryam Elika Ansari, New Citizens Gateway
“Roundhouse have given Phosphoros Young Company a state-of-the-art space that has enabled our members – aged 16–21 – to develop skills, confidence and connections.”
— Juliet Styles, Phosphoros Theatre
What We’re Doing
We’ve been working with young sanctuary seekers since 2017 through our creative programmes, youth memberships, and partnerships. In 2023, we formally began our journey towards becoming a Theatre of Sanctuary.
We now work with partners including:
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British Red Cross
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Young Roots
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New Citizens Gateway
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Babylon Migrants Project
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Phosphoros Theatre
Through these collaborations, sanctuary-seeking young people have access to creative sessions in circus, music, film, DJing and theatre. They also co-create public events, awareness sessions and artistic showcases for the wider community.
Impact in Action
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Creative Memberships – Free access for sanctuary seekers aged 13–25 to our studios and programmes
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Collaborative Projects – Including performances, film and media projects tied to Refugee Week
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Youth-Led Showcases – Sanctuary-seeking young people sharing their stories and work with live audiences
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Community Events – Upcoming: Open Mic Night for Community Partners on Wednesday 18th June 2025, celebrating young voices across our sanctuary network
Our Activities
Be Kind (2023)
An animation inspired by Little Amal’s journey, made by some incredibly talented 11-14 year olds from the Roundhouse Studios, as part of our Open Access Programme.
Our Home (2024)
A film made by a partnership project with the New Citizens Gateway, who has been supporting Refugees and Asylum seekers since 2005, in response to the theme of Refugee Week 2024 Our Home.
FILM TO BE UPLOADED (2025)
A film made by a partnership project with the New Citizens Gateway, who has been supporting Refugees and Asylum seekers since 2005, in response to the theme of Refugee Week 2025 ‘Community as a Superpower’.
FILM TO BE UPLOADED (2025)
A film made by a partnership project with the Babylon Migrants Project in response to the theme of Refugee Week 2025 ‘Community as a Superpower’.
What is Next?
Our Theatre of Sanctuary status is not the end goal – it’s part of an ongoing journey. We’re committed to:
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Continuing to listen and co-create with young people from sanctuary-seeking backgrounds
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Deepening partnerships with grassroots organisations
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Advocating for equity, dignity and belonging in the cultural sector
