About Us

Our History

A genuine interest in and love for people drove Sr Margaret Walsh to chat to individuals she saw waiting in the streets near St Chad's Cathedral in Birmingham in 2009. Upon discovering that they were waiting, sometimes for hours, for help at a nearby charity offering legal advice to refugees, Sr Margaret decided that she would offer them a cup of tea while they waited. She shared her intention with the dean of St Chad's Cathedral, the Archdiocese of Birmingham and with the neighbouring Salvation Army who all worked with her to open up operations in an unused Salvation Army building, just behind the Cathedral in Shadwell Street in 2010. Sr Margaret gathered a small team of volunteers from local people, religious orders and missionaries to prepare the building for visitors and St Chad's Sanctuary was born. Using her great strength for listening to people, the offer grew from a cup of tea to sharing clothes, food, toiletries and other practical items. Later, English lessons were added, alongside support for families, help with school places, social opportunities and information sharing.

Beginning as a charity, St Chad's Sanctuary developed into a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in 2016 which enabled the expansion of the Trustee Board to include people of diverse talents and skills. We were able to offer stable employment for previously contracted workers with the support of Father Hudson's Caritas who also provided governance support. Sr Margaret stepped down as Project Manager in 2019, remaining as Patron and Trustee, and was succeeded by Abi Martin. Highlights from over the years include being part of The Secret Millionaire programme, receiving the Pilotlight Award in 2023 and seeing some of our students move on to university. The Salvation Army generously donated the use of the building on Shadwell Street from 2010 to 2026, when it was sold. The Archdiocese of Birmingham stepped in to help once more by allowing us to move operations into the parish centre of St Anne's Church in Digbeth in May 2026. We look forward to many more years of welcoming sanctuary seekers from our new home.