Building Community Through the Power of Running

‘Sanctuary Runners’ is bridging community divides by fostering a welcoming environment for migrants and asylum seekers through a community running team. Community Foundation Ireland provides a trusted source of funding and expert advice for Sanctuary Runners. 

 Being a part of Sanctuary Runners continues to be a life-changing experience for many of the people involved. Their unique goal focuses on doing things with the community, not just for it. In doing so, it cultivates a strong sense of belonging, fosters friendships, and provides a learning experience for those seeking to learn English.   

 Sanctuary Runners has provided a place of belonging to community members through funding for necessary items, such as creating an online toolkit to enhance outreach and build groups to expand the initiative. In addition, funding will also go toward distributing essential running gear to ensure accessibility for all participants. 

 The impact of Sanctuary Runners highlights the positive influence of this ‘solidarity-through-sport’ initiative and will help expand the movement to more counties and communities. 

 The effects of this group have already been widely noticed as people from a wide range of backgrounds, such as Poland, Lithuania, South Africa, and Brazil, have attended the Saturday morning runs to show support for Ukraine.   

Arriving in a new community can be daunting, but Sanctuary Runners aims to create a safe space for those seeking community by building social cohesion while also working on improving both mental and physical health. Sanctuary Runners is an opportunity for both existing and new community members to be a part of change and foster solidarity. 

Community Foundation Ireland proudly partners with Sanctuary Runners to help amplify the impact of their incredible work.