Children told to welcome 'brave and amazing' illegal migrants - and even share their toys with them

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GB NEWS

Peter Stevens

By Peter Stevens


Published: 30/04/2026

- 00:30

'If you don’t let people in, you’ll never know what you’re missing,' children as young as five are told

Children have been told to welcome migrants and even share their toys with them under a new scheme in schools.

More than 1,000 schools have signed up to a scheme by the Schools of Sanctuary network to promote positive attitudes towards migration.


The scheme includes a book list sent to secondary schools, primary schools, and nurseries.

One of the books, "Kind" by Alison Green, teaches children to be kind to the "brave and amazing people" people who have had to "leave their countries because of danger".

Kind asks children how they can welcome these people who have "extraordinary stories to tell" and if they can "share toys" with them.

The book, targeted at readers as young as five, illustrated this with a flotilla of small boats filled with cartoon animals, including lions and giraffes.

The next page warns of how critics might say "we don't have enough to share" and "there's no room for anyone more", suggesting to children to respond by saying: "There's plenty of room! Come on in!"

It continues: "After all, if you don’t let people in, you’ll never know what you’re missing."

Small boat migrants

'If you don’t let people in, you’ll never know what you’re missing,' children as young as five are told

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This is accompanied by an illustration of a raccoon opening a door to a large bear.

Schools of Sanctuary aims to to turn children into "ethically informed change-makers".

Other books on the list include Bobble, a story about a blue creature who uses a small boat to escape from difficult circumstances "far away".

Bobble's boat lands on a beach but is told by the island's population: "There’s no room for you here with us, you’ll have to try elsewhere. Travel to the next island, and ask if there’s space there."

Sheffield

Sheffield was named the first City of Sanctuary in 2007

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The creators of the book state that it aims to make "big conversations about migration a little easier" and give young readers a way to "connect with refugees and asylum seekers".

Another book on the list is Everybody's Welcome, a book about a woodland mouse who invites animals to join him "no matter who they are "or where they come from".

It also includes Elmer and The Hippos, a book where a herd of elephants, upset that a group of hippos who have "come to live with them" have made their river "too crowded", eventually accept the semiaquatic mammals after Elmer plays peacemaker.

The programme is part of the larger City of Sanctuary scheme, an advocacy group subscribed to by 60 local authorities.

Child reading a book

(FILE PHOTO) The book list has been sent to over 1000 schools as part of the Schools of Sanctuary Scheme

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Local authorities which have signed up to scheme to be named as Cities of Sanctuary include Brighton, Manchester, Newcastle, and Westminster - while Wales is seeking to be the first "Nation of Sanctuary".

Schools apply separately to be accredited for a similar programme to welcome refugees and asylum seekers and foster a broader "culture of belonging".

Typical Sanctuary activities include English language classes and cultural events to raise awareness for new arrivals.

Schools also commit to celebrating events such as Refugee Week, an annual event which begins on July 15 and has a theme of "Courage".

Kind and Bobble appeared on reading lists for Refugee Week 2025.

City of Sanctuary UK said that the network "works with schools to support a culture of welcome, inclusion and understanding for all members of the community".

The organisation added: "Our suggested educational resources, including book recommendations, are designed to help children develop empathy, critical thinking, and awareness of the experiences of others."

Hannah Broadway, illustrator of Bobble, told The Telegraph: "Bobble is a picture book for children and grown-ups. It was created to make big conversations a bit easier. Much about migration and displacement is complicated and confusing, but we hope this book's message is simple: act with compassion and love."

She added: "I'm a big fan of picture books and believe they are a powerful tool to help us learn and reflect on things. I think if we treated adults like children, and children like adults, we might find a better way to communicate."