Staff news

Sanctuary walk for refugees

The Chaplaincy is organising a sponsored walk on 3 and 4 June 2017 to raise initial funds to offer educational opportunities to refugees in Scotland.

Sanctuary walk for refugees

The Chaplaincy invites staff, students and the larger Edinburgh community to participate.

Global citizenship

As a City of Sanctuary, Edinburgh takes pride in welcoming global citizens in need of safety – whether that be from war, poverty, or as a result of the recent refugee crisis.

The University shares these values and is working to provide refugees in Edinburgh with a wide range of educational support, from basic English classes to admission onto an undergraduate course.

A key element of this is financial support, and the University has set up a JustGiving page through which you can contribute to supporting education for refugees.

Sponsored walk

In order to begin raising money for this fund, the Chaplaincy invites you to participate in a sponsored Walk for Refugees this June to celebrate our Celtic inheritance of welcome and hospitality.

We will start in Edinburgh, camp overnight near St Bridget's Kirk in Dalgety Bay, sail by boat to Inchcolm and its Abbey in the Firth of Forth and return to the Scottish Parliament.

The walk will remember the journeying of refugees on foot, in vehicles and by boat, in order to reach a place of sanctuary.

The Chaplaincy invites University staff, students and the general public to take part in the event by being sponsored to complete the whole route below in order to raise money for educational support.

Get involved

Latest updates for the event can be found on the Sanctuary Walk for Refugees Facebook page.

To register to take part in the walk please register via the Sanctuary Walk for Refugees ePay page.

Walk participants are kindly asked to fundraise via the Sanctuary Walk for Refugees JustGiving page. The JustGiving page also enables people to donate towards the project, even if they are not able to participate in the Walk itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the organisers?

The event is organised by the University of Edinburgh's Chaplaincy, along with other University departments including Edinbrugh Global, Development & Alumni, and Social Responsibility & Sustainability, along with Edinburgh University Students' Associations, and student groups including Student Action for Refugees (STAR) and the Amnesty International Society.

What is the itinerary?

Saturday 3rd June

Section 1: Walk approximately 13 miles from North Edinburgh to St Bridget’s Kirk, Dalgety Bay – one of our symbolic places of Celtic welcome and sanctuary.

Section 2: Camp overnight near St Bridget's Kirk in the Dalgety bay area where there will be festivities, stories, food and music.

Sunday 4th June

Section 3: Walk to Port Edgar, South Queensferry and travel by boat to the Island of Incholm, and Inchcolm Abbey – our second Celtic symbolic place of sanctuary.

Section 4: Bus to Edinburgh and the Scottish Parliament to finish with speeches.

Why a sponsored walk?

In Scotland we have, within the Celtic tradition, a strong heritage of hospitality and a commitment to education. The inspiration for the Sanctuary Walk for Refugees comes from two 6th century Celtic prophets, St Bridget and St Columba, who are both known for their practices of welcome and hospitality. On the 3rd and 4th June we will be reclaiming this heritage of pilgrimage for compassion, following in their footsteps and participating in a fundraising walk for education at the University of Edinburgh for refugees and asylum seekers.

What will my sponsorship be used for?

The funds you raise will be directed to support scholars and students who are refugees and under humanitarian protection.

Can I join for just part of the walk?

No, we are asking that people join the whole event on the Saturday and Sunday.

Related links

Chaplaincy

Sanctuary Walk for Refugees Facebook page

Sanctuary Walk for Refugees ePay page

Sanctuary Walk for Refugees JustGiving page