SANCTUARY UK AMBASSADOR: SARAH IKUMU

Sanctuary UK is pleased to welcome our first ambassador: Sarah Ikumu! Sarah is a British singer-songwriter whose career launched globally after earning Simon Cowell’s Golden Buzzer on Britain’s Got Talent. Known for her powerhouse vocals and emotional depth, Sarah has since performed on major stages including Showtime at the Apollo (NYC), Glastonbury Festival, and We Day at Wembley SSE Arena.

She has been featured by British Vogue, performed for the Royal Family, and was invited to Buckingham Palace to meet the King. With a combined audience of 360k followers across social platforms, she continues to captivate global listeners with her voice, artistry, and commanding stage presence.

ON HER AMBASSADORSHIP:

I wanted to partner with Sanctuary because my faith is a huge part of who I am, but so is my heart for people. As someone who shares both my music and my beliefs publicly, I know I have been given a platform, and I want to use it to bring hope and encouragement to others. Mental health affects so many of us, including within the Church, yet it is often something people feel they have to hide.

Sanctuary is creating space for honest, compassionate conversations about faith and mental health, and that really resonates with me. Being a believer does not mean you are exempt from struggle, and no one should feel alone or ashamed for what they are going through. If my voice can help even one person feel seen, supported, or encouraged to seek help, then that means everything to me.

LISTEN TO SARAH

SANCTUARY UK AMBASSADOR: SARAH IKUMU

SANCTUARY UK AMBASSADOR: SARAH IKUMU

Sanctuary UK is pleased to welcome our first ambassador: Sarah Ikumu! Sarah is a British singer-songwriter whose career launched globally after earning Simon Cowell’s Golden Buzzer on Britain’s Got Talent. Known for her powerhouse vocals and emotional depth, Sarah has since performed on major stages including Showtime at the Apollo (NYC), Glastonbury Festival, and We Day at Wembley SSE Arena. She has been featured by British Vogue, performed for the Royal Family, and was invited to Buckingham Palace to meet the King. With a combined audience of 360k followers across social platforms, she continues to captivate global listeners with her voice, artistry, and commanding stage presence.

LISTEN TO SARAH

ON HER AMBASSADORSHIP:

I wanted to partner with Sanctuary because my faith is a huge part of who I am, but so is my heart for people. As someone who shares both my music and my beliefs publicly, I know I have been given a platform, and I want to use it to bring hope and encouragement to others. Mental health affects so many of us, including within the Church, yet it is often something people feel they have to hide.

Sanctuary is creating space for honest, compassionate conversations about faith and mental health, and that really resonates with me. Being a believer does not mean you are exempt from struggle, and no one should feel alone or ashamed for what they are going through. If my voice can help even one person feel seen, supported, or encouraged to seek help, then that means everything to me.

THE SANCTUARY YOUTH SERIES

Help the next generation navigate mental health and faith with The Sanctuary Youth Series.

This free resource is centred on the pressing questions young people are asking about faith and mental health. Questions like: "What does the Bible say about mental health? and "How can I help my friend.? It's designed to be used in small groups, youth ministries, and school-settings for students aged eleven to fifteen.

LEARN MORE

GET IT NOW

One in four people will be affected by a mental health challenge at some point in their lives, yet the stigma surrounding these experiences often prevents faith communities from responding compassionately and effectively. The Sanctuary Course is a free small-group resource designed to reduce stigma, raise awareness, and engage communities in meaningful conversations about mental health and faith. Each session examines a key mental health topic, and the accompanying films feature insights from mental health professionals, church leaders, and theologians. Learn more and get started today.

SANCTUARY SONGS

NOW STREAMING ON ALL PLATFORMS

Sanctuary and The Porter's Gate have created an album about mental health and faith, titled Sanctuary Songs. It centres around the lived experience of people who are often marginalized in churches, and models life-giving and healing ways for congregants to talk (and sing) about mental health challenges.

LISTEN NOW

LEARN MORE

SANCTUARY SONGS

STREAMING ON ALL PLATFORMS

Sanctuary and The Porter's Gate have created an album about mental health and faith, titled Sanctuary Songs. It centres around the lived experience of people who are often marginalized in churches, and models life-giving and healing ways for congregants to talk (and sing) about mental health challenges,

You can learn more about the album by clicking below. The album is available to stream on all platforms.

LISTEN NOW

LEARN MORE

ABOUT SANCTUARY UK

“Sanctuary resources prepare communities of faith around the world to raise awareness, reduce stigma, support mental health, and promote mental wellbeing.”

Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries is a Christian charity that equips the Church to support mental health and wellbeing.

Having formed a number of fruitful partnerships with UK organisations working in the intersection of mental wellbeing and faith beforehand, we officially launched the UK branch of Sanctuary in 2020. Since then, Sanctuary UK has prioritized developing in-person and online training for church leaders to address emerging needs throughout the UK. We're excited to continue the ongoing work to grow healthier, more resilient communities.

Sanctuary was founded in Canada in 2012. The primary tool we offer, The Sanctuary Course, launched in 2018 and has been used in churches across the world. This eight-session course for small groups explores mental health from psychological, social, and theological perspectives. The course includes reading, discussion guides, and films featuring mental health professionals, pastors, theologians, and people who share their lived experiences with mental health challenges.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE SANCTUARY UK NEWSLETTER

SARA TAYLOR, UK NATIONAL DIRECTOR

Sara is the National Director of Sanctuary UK. She is working to connect with charities, non-profits, and churches across the UK to form partnerships, collaborate in the intersection of mental health and faith, and bring resources like The Sanctuary Course to help meet the needs of churches and communities.

Sara has over two decades of experience in youth work, education, and community development, with a particular focus on mental health and inclusion. She is currently undertaking PhD research exploring authenticity and meaning-making in young people’s lives. Sara is also passionate about creating environments where people can live with wholeness and purpose.

GET IN TOUCH

Let's Journey Together this Christmas

This year our Christmas campaign focuses on the power of journeying together. We're reflecting on the journey of the Magi and the gifts that they brought the baby Jesus as a way of showing us that all of us have gifts that we carry, wherever we are in our mental health journeys.

And we're also thinking about how having someone, or a community, to walk alongside people in their journey can help them feel seen, known, and loved.

At Sanctuary UK, our work helps churches to walk alongside people living with mental health challenges: bringing hope, presence, and compassion to all across the UK and Ireland. If you envision a future where the Church plays a transformative role in supporting mental health and wellbeing in every community, could you consider making a monthly donation? We are looking to have ten new regular supporters come alongside us to help advance our vital work.

Any amount you can give will be gratefully appreciated. To give, you can go to: sanctuarymentalhealth.org/donate.

GIVE

CHRISTMAS AT SANCTUARY

THE SANCTUARY APP: TOGETHER AGAIN

The Sanctuary app features Together Again—a game to open conversations about wellbeing and faith. Throughout lockdown, checking on each others’ wellbeing was an important part of life together. Together Again continues this conversation as we move into a new season, generating questions to help us explore challenges, as well as lighter moments. These questions are designed to help us connect with each other and pace our recovery. Discover a simple way to keep the mental health and wellbeing conversation alive in our faith communities and beyond with Together Again. In the app you’ll find:

Together Again, a conversation-starting game
Links to emergency mental health support
Access to a suite of free Sanctuary resources to support faith and mental health
Ways to take the conversation further with The Sanctuary Course

Download the app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play store using the links below, and be sure to share with your friends!

Together Again app question displayed on a cellphone

SANCTUARY'S PATRON: JUSTIN WELBY, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY

We are thrilled to have Archbishop Justin as Sanctuary’s first patron. His openness about his personal experiences with mental health challenges displays the type of leadership needed in the Church. Furthermore, his commitment to ecumenism mirrors our passion for serving the whole body of Christ. As patron, he’ll lend his profile and support to Sanctuary as part of an ongoing relationship to raise awareness about our work in the UK and around the world. We look forward to working together to equip the whole Church to support mental health and wellbeing.

“Sanctuary’s resources are particularly needed as we recover from the impact of the pandemic. The experiences of people living with mental health challenges shape Sanctuary’s work, and is underpinned by thorough research and theology. I am delighted to become a patron of this innovative organisation, and I would encourage Christians to seek out The Sanctuary Course and run it in their community.’’ – The Most Revd and Rt Hon Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury

READ SANCTUARY'S STATEMENT ON THE RESIGNATION OF JUSTIN WELBY, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY

READ HERE

OUR STATEMENT

on the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury

READ HERE

THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY ON THE SANCTUARY COURSE