If you’ve lived or worked in Monmouthshire for any length of time, you’ll know that kindness isn’t something we save for special occasions—it is woven into the way our county lives and breathes. It is in the neighbour who checks in on the family down the road and the volunteers who show up, rain or shine, simply because someone might need them.

And now that everyday compassion has been recognised: Monmouthshire is officially a County of Sanctuary, the first in Wales to earn this honour under a new robust accreditation scheme..

I am incredibly proud to receive this award from the City of Sanctuary UK movement. It is not an accolade given lightly. It celebrates places where welcome isn’t symbolic but lived; where inclusion is a value you can see in action.

Our journey began in September 2023, when your county council unanimously agreed to seek accreditation. Since then we have undergone a detailed assessment of our policies, our communities, and the way we support those seeking safety.

I never doubted that we would achieve this status. Compassion is part of Monmouthshire’s DNA. Our accreditation reflects a long‑held commitment to being a welcoming, inclusive county and it is visible everywhere you look.

Take a walk through Abergavenny on a market day and you’ll see people from a wide range of backgrounds sharing space with quiet ease: shopping, chatting, living side by side. I, for one, am grateful for groups like Abergavenny Town of Sanctuary who have quietly supported sanctuary seekers for years, helping people find not just safety, but a sense of belonging.

Of course, this spirit isn’t new. Monmouthshire has welcomed people for generations, from Belgian families fleeing the First World War to Syrian and Ukrainian families escaping today’s conflicts. Time and time again, our residents have responded with generosity and humanity to those in dire need.

Our new county status is a celebration, but it’s also a reminder. Welcome isn’t a one‑off project. It is a commitment we renew each time someone arrives in need of safety or hope.

Your council will continue working with residents to ensure that everyone, no matter their particular story, feels welcome, safe and valued.

In uncertain and fractured times, Monmouthshire’s recognition as a County of Sanctuary is a reassurance that here, compassion still leads the way.