Maggie Filipova-Rivers
@maggieflpv.bsky.social
Progressive in progress, Sanctuary Builder, councillor, council leader, World Bank consultant, European, mama to Noah and Indi, eternal student 🌏🇪🇺🇧🇬🧡
Views are my own
Views are my own
Really positive to see Salford putting real action behind its City of Sanctuary commitment with a new Hate Crime Reporting Ambassadors scheme helping victims of hate crime feel safer and more confident to come forward @cityofsanctuaryuk.bsky.social
"Salford is a city of sanctuary" - Inside the launch of a new scheme tackling hate crime | Salford Now
A new scheme Hate Crime Reporting Ambassadors scheme has been launched in Salford to tackle prejudice in the city.
www.salfordnow.co.uk
February 9, 2026 at 7:46 AM
Really positive to see Salford putting real action behind its City of Sanctuary commitment with a new Hate Crime Reporting Ambassadors scheme helping victims of hate crime feel safer and more confident to come forward @cityofsanctuaryuk.bsky.social
Great to see Westminster Council standing their ground and setting out a clear, coherent strategy to support new arrivals as they move toward becoming a Council of Sanctuary.
Real leadership means combining compassion with practical action to create support that is sustainable and dignified.
Real leadership means combining compassion with practical action to create support that is sustainable and dignified.
Westminster steps toward becoming a 'City of Sanctuary' - The Fitzrovia News
The City of Westminster is closer than ever to becoming an accredited Council of Sanctuary, where refugees and asylum seekers are given support and a warm welcome.
fitzrovianews.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:38 AM
Great to see Westminster Council standing their ground and setting out a clear, coherent strategy to support new arrivals as they move toward becoming a Council of Sanctuary.
Real leadership means combining compassion with practical action to create support that is sustainable and dignified.
Real leadership means combining compassion with practical action to create support that is sustainable and dignified.
Reposted by Maggie Filipova-Rivers
Two more councils have withdrawn from X (Twitter). South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse said that the platform had become “progressively ineffective at communicating with local communities, but recent events have caused the councils to take things a step further”.
January 16, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Two more councils have withdrawn from X (Twitter). South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse said that the platform had become “progressively ineffective at communicating with local communities, but recent events have caused the councils to take things a step further”.
Reposted by Maggie Filipova-Rivers
Oxford Mutual Aid (O.M.A.) have tallied up their 2025 in their latest newsletter: With the help of more than 500 volunteers, they packed and delivered more than 10,000 food parcels in Oxford last year. An eye-opening 885 of their more than food parcel recipients were children under 12.
January 14, 2026 at 4:53 PM
Oxford Mutual Aid (O.M.A.) have tallied up their 2025 in their latest newsletter: With the help of more than 500 volunteers, they packed and delivered more than 10,000 food parcels in Oxford last year. An eye-opening 885 of their more than food parcel recipients were children under 12.
Reposted by Maggie Filipova-Rivers
Has there ever been any poll showing the public this united? yougov.co.uk/technology/a...
January 13, 2026 at 12:41 PM
Has there ever been any poll showing the public this united? yougov.co.uk/technology/a...
Please consider supporting refugee charities like City of Sanctuary which have had one of their toughest years to date.
Your solidarity doubled. Your impact multiplied ⚡
Until December 9th only, all donations will be matched!✨
This means we can work with more communities so they're places of welcome, support & opportunity for people rebuilding their lives.
Stand with us:
donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...
Until December 9th only, all donations will be matched!✨
This means we can work with more communities so they're places of welcome, support & opportunity for people rebuilding their lives.
Stand with us:
donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...
December 3, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Please consider supporting refugee charities like City of Sanctuary which have had one of their toughest years to date.
Reposted by Maggie Filipova-Rivers
Cruelty isn’t a solution - and it’s not a distraction we should fall for.
The real issues we face - fixing the NHS, building affordable housing, reducing wealth inequality - are not solved by making life harder for people seeking safety.
🧵
The real issues we face - fixing the NHS, building affordable housing, reducing wealth inequality - are not solved by making life harder for people seeking safety.
🧵
November 17, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Cruelty isn’t a solution - and it’s not a distraction we should fall for.
The real issues we face - fixing the NHS, building affordable housing, reducing wealth inequality - are not solved by making life harder for people seeking safety.
🧵
The real issues we face - fixing the NHS, building affordable housing, reducing wealth inequality - are not solved by making life harder for people seeking safety.
🧵
Reposted by Maggie Filipova-Rivers
Shabana Mahmood on the BBC this morning talking about desperate people fleeing war and persecution as being given a "golden ticket" and "handouts" and saying she's got a "moral mission" to take them away from them
Indistinguishable from the rhetoric of Reform www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/shabana-ma...
Indistinguishable from the rhetoric of Reform www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/shabana-ma...
Shabana Mahmood and the Politics of Extortion
Labour's strategy of telling its supporters to back Reform-style policies, or get a Reform Government, is the politics of the protection racket and it is not going to work
www.adambienkov.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Shabana Mahmood on the BBC this morning talking about desperate people fleeing war and persecution as being given a "golden ticket" and "handouts" and saying she's got a "moral mission" to take them away from them
Indistinguishable from the rhetoric of Reform www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/shabana-ma...
Indistinguishable from the rhetoric of Reform www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/shabana-ma...
Reposted by Maggie Filipova-Rivers
Swansea Council reaffirms City of Sanctuary status in social cohesion vote
Councillors in Swansea have voted overwhelmingly to back a motion on social cohesion, reaffirming the city’s status as a City of Sanctuary and rejecting misinformation linked to Seaview School.
Councillors in Swansea have voted overwhelmingly to back a motion on social cohesion, reaffirming the city’s status as a City of Sanctuary and rejecting misinformation linked to Seaview School.
Swansea Council reaffirms City of Sanctuary status in social cohesion vote
Councillors in Swansea have voted overwhelmingly to back a motion on social cohesion, reaffirming the city’s status as a City of Sanctuary and rejecting misinformation linked to Seaview School.
swanseabaynews.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Swansea Council reaffirms City of Sanctuary status in social cohesion vote
Councillors in Swansea have voted overwhelmingly to back a motion on social cohesion, reaffirming the city’s status as a City of Sanctuary and rejecting misinformation linked to Seaview School.
Councillors in Swansea have voted overwhelmingly to back a motion on social cohesion, reaffirming the city’s status as a City of Sanctuary and rejecting misinformation linked to Seaview School.
Great work Kingston Council!
'We are a fair and inclusive borough' as Kingston is awarded City of Sanctuary status - Yahoo News UK
Kingston has been awarded City of Sanctuary status, recognising its commitment to being a welcoming and inclusive borough.
uk.news.yahoo.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Great work Kingston Council!
Reposted by Maggie Filipova-Rivers
Important, timely, analysis by @lgilbert.co debunking the commonly used line that "migrants are a burden". Shows that migrants are overwhelmingly bet fiscal contributors. Basically, you target migration, you crash the country.
"Home Office data suggests that recent immigrants are more likely to be working than British nationals and make higher wages than them."
✍️ Lauren Gilbert argues that migrants to the UK are net fiscal contributors, adding much more to the economy than they take out,
ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...
✍️ Lauren Gilbert argues that migrants to the UK are net fiscal contributors, adding much more to the economy than they take out,
ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...
Lower migration is bad news for the UK economy - UK in a changing Europe
Lauren Gilbert argues that migrants to the UK are net fiscal contributors, adding much more to the economy than they take out, and that the recent collapse in immigration will harm the UK's economic p...
ukandeu.ac.uk
November 7, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Important, timely, analysis by @lgilbert.co debunking the commonly used line that "migrants are a burden". Shows that migrants are overwhelmingly bet fiscal contributors. Basically, you target migration, you crash the country.
Reposted by Maggie Filipova-Rivers
Interesting analysis. In Oxford a local roundabout was flagged by a team of men from Liverpool....
"it is striking how many of the key players we have looked into — the people who have gone out of their way to put up hundreds of flags — seem anything but ordinary."
manchestermill.co.uk/the-men-who-...
manchestermill.co.uk/the-men-who-...
The men who raised the flags
Nigel Farage says this summer’s movement was led by ‘ordinary people’ expressing their patriotism. That’s not what we found
manchestermill.co.uk
November 2, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Interesting analysis. In Oxford a local roundabout was flagged by a team of men from Liverpool....
Reposted by Maggie Filipova-Rivers
You’ve got £9.95 to last you the whole week… what’s your plan?
This impossible choice is played out in asylum hotels. Whilst people await a decision on their claim, they are banned from working & receive just £9.95 for clothes, travel, data & more.
This is not luxury. This is a hellish limbo.
🧵
This impossible choice is played out in asylum hotels. Whilst people await a decision on their claim, they are banned from working & receive just £9.95 for clothes, travel, data & more.
This is not luxury. This is a hellish limbo.
🧵
October 27, 2025 at 4:08 PM
You’ve got £9.95 to last you the whole week… what’s your plan?
This impossible choice is played out in asylum hotels. Whilst people await a decision on their claim, they are banned from working & receive just £9.95 for clothes, travel, data & more.
This is not luxury. This is a hellish limbo.
🧵
This impossible choice is played out in asylum hotels. Whilst people await a decision on their claim, they are banned from working & receive just £9.95 for clothes, travel, data & more.
This is not luxury. This is a hellish limbo.
🧵
So great to meet with the London Borough of Sanctuary leads. @cityofsanctuaryuk.bsky.social
October 28, 2025 at 2:36 PM
So great to meet with the London Borough of Sanctuary leads. @cityofsanctuaryuk.bsky.social
Reposted by Maggie Filipova-Rivers
Council Agree to Join City of Sanctuary Network #Newry https://www.newry.ie/articles/news/council-agree-to-join-city-of-sanctuary-network
September 15, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Council Agree to Join City of Sanctuary Network #Newry https://www.newry.ie/articles/news/council-agree-to-join-city-of-sanctuary-network
Reposted by Maggie Filipova-Rivers
"Newry councillors approve City of Sanctuary plans despite street protests"
September 16, 2025 at 8:45 PM
"Newry councillors approve City of Sanctuary plans despite street protests"
Reposted by Maggie Filipova-Rivers
Bravo to Perth & Kinross Council for issuing two strong statements today, ahead of a planned far-right "protest" against asylum seekers in the Radisson Hotel (formerly Station Hotel) in Perth tomorrow, Saturday 23rd.
Counter protest is gathering at 10am, FB link for more info in next post.
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Counter protest is gathering at 10am, FB link for more info in next post.
1/2
August 22, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Bravo to Perth & Kinross Council for issuing two strong statements today, ahead of a planned far-right "protest" against asylum seekers in the Radisson Hotel (formerly Station Hotel) in Perth tomorrow, Saturday 23rd.
Counter protest is gathering at 10am, FB link for more info in next post.
1/2
Counter protest is gathering at 10am, FB link for more info in next post.
1/2
Really proud of Newry! They stood their ground despite huge pressure from the far right
Council Agree to Join City of Sanctuary Network #Newry https://www.newry.ie/articles/news/council-agree-to-join-city-of-sanctuary-network
September 17, 2025 at 6:16 AM
Really proud of Newry! They stood their ground despite huge pressure from the far right
Reposted by Maggie Filipova-Rivers
At the Greenwich Overview & Scrutiny Panel we had the privilege of sharing why it matters so deeply for us that Greenwich is a Borough of Sanctuary.
We spoke about what sanctuary means for us at Creating Ground, and for us personally as residents and migrant women who call this borough home. 🌱✨
We spoke about what sanctuary means for us at Creating Ground, and for us personally as residents and migrant women who call this borough home. 🌱✨
September 8, 2025 at 10:12 AM
At the Greenwich Overview & Scrutiny Panel we had the privilege of sharing why it matters so deeply for us that Greenwich is a Borough of Sanctuary.
We spoke about what sanctuary means for us at Creating Ground, and for us personally as residents and migrant women who call this borough home. 🌱✨
We spoke about what sanctuary means for us at Creating Ground, and for us personally as residents and migrant women who call this borough home. 🌱✨
Hackney is committed to being a Borough of Sanctuary 🙌
Hackney will always be no place for hate | Hackney Council News
A joint statement from Caroline Woodley, Mayor of Hackney, and Dawn Carter-McDonald, Chief Executive.
news.hackney.gov.uk
September 17, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Hackney is committed to being a Borough of Sanctuary 🙌
Reposted by Maggie Filipova-Rivers
Great visit to Goring on Thames yesterday by @freddievanmierlomp.bsky.social and @maggieflpv.bsky.social to look at the issue of a car-free cycle route between Goring and Wallingford. Currently the trail is interrupted by some stiles. @cyclinguk.bsky.social
September 16, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Great visit to Goring on Thames yesterday by @freddievanmierlomp.bsky.social and @maggieflpv.bsky.social to look at the issue of a car-free cycle route between Goring and Wallingford. Currently the trail is interrupted by some stiles. @cyclinguk.bsky.social
Reposted by Maggie Filipova-Rivers
No other party says the basic truth: migration is good for Britain.
The real problem? Inequality, soaring bills, underfunded public services.
That’s driven by the greed of the super rich and the Labour government who serve them - not by migrants.
The real problem? Inequality, soaring bills, underfunded public services.
That’s driven by the greed of the super rich and the Labour government who serve them - not by migrants.
September 10, 2025 at 7:50 PM
No other party says the basic truth: migration is good for Britain.
The real problem? Inequality, soaring bills, underfunded public services.
That’s driven by the greed of the super rich and the Labour government who serve them - not by migrants.
The real problem? Inequality, soaring bills, underfunded public services.
That’s driven by the greed of the super rich and the Labour government who serve them - not by migrants.
Reposted by Maggie Filipova-Rivers
Southampton: A City of Sanctuary where everyone is welcome.
Read the latest Leader's Corner from Councillor Lorna Fielker, Leader of Southampton City Council. soton.cc/CityofSanctuary
Read the latest Leader's Corner from Councillor Lorna Fielker, Leader of Southampton City Council. soton.cc/CityofSanctuary
June 20, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Southampton: A City of Sanctuary where everyone is welcome.
Read the latest Leader's Corner from Councillor Lorna Fielker, Leader of Southampton City Council. soton.cc/CityofSanctuary
Read the latest Leader's Corner from Councillor Lorna Fielker, Leader of Southampton City Council. soton.cc/CityofSanctuary
Reposted by Maggie Filipova-Rivers
New life for refugees helped by Borough of Sanctuary Fund
https://www.allforgardening.com/1335682/new-life-for-refugees-helped-by-borough-of-sanctuary-fund/
A life-changing community project is helping refugees in Wandsworth make a difference with the support of the council’s Borough of …
https://www.allforgardening.com/1335682/new-life-for-refugees-helped-by-borough-of-sanctuary-fund/
A life-changing community project is helping refugees in Wandsworth make a difference with the support of the council’s Borough of …
New life for refugees helped by Borough of Sanctuary Fund - All For Gardening
A life-changing community project is helping refugees in Wandsworth make a difference with the support of the council’s Borough of Sanctuary Fund.
www.allforgardening.com
June 16, 2025 at 1:40 PM
New life for refugees helped by Borough of Sanctuary Fund
https://www.allforgardening.com/1335682/new-life-for-refugees-helped-by-borough-of-sanctuary-fund/
A life-changing community project is helping refugees in Wandsworth make a difference with the support of the council’s Borough of …
https://www.allforgardening.com/1335682/new-life-for-refugees-helped-by-borough-of-sanctuary-fund/
A life-changing community project is helping refugees in Wandsworth make a difference with the support of the council’s Borough of …