A pilot project in York at the 3 Oxfam shops in the city placed a number of refugees as volunteers at the shops. Additionally, the YCoS project leader visited the shops regularly to monitor the support to the volunteers. Access was given to attend meetings of the shop volunteers and to talk about the work of York City of Sanctuary in the wider context of immigration in the UK. Publicity for Refugee Week in the city was also made available.

The project was considered sufficiently successful by the national body of City of Sanctuary and Oxfam, that agreement has been reached to roll out the programme nationally when retail shops open again.

It is hoped that shops other than Oxfam will also seek to become part of the stream.