Refugee Week: 16-22 June
Refugee Week is taking place this year from 16– 22 June. Newcastle is a City of Sanctuary and we are proud to welcome people seeking Sanctuary in our city every day of the year. People seek asylum or a new life as a refugee in the UK as a place of safety. People’s experiences are often traumatic and challenges continue with settling into life in a new place. Refugee Week is a chance to come together to celebrate the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary and to show our support. This year’s theme is ‘Community as a Superpower’.
For anyone working with and supporting children and families seeking asylum or a new life as a refugee in the UK, this is an opportunity to support their engagement with others sharing the experience and the wider community. This Refugee Week everyone is invited to spend time with friends and build new connections in and beyond our neighbourhoods. From communal meals and open air film screenings, to football matches and music making, let’s share the feelings of welcome and belonging. Listening, learning, laughing together.
How to get involved – You can take part by your own individual acts of community, putting on your own event or attending one of those organised across the city during Refugee Week. If you are interested in attending or would like to support and/or invite people from refugee or asylum backgrounds to attend, please have a look at the information below and make contact with the organiser directly. The North East Migration Partnership (NEMP) have organised lunchtime webinars through the week (information attached). There are also films available to watch online during the week: Film Programme – Refugee Week
Sanctuary Forum – We hold a quarterly City of Sanctuary Forum and have a special forum on Wednesday 18 June from 9.30am at the Civic Centre. Individuals with sanctuary backgrounds will be speaking with us about their journeys and experiences, a generous gift from them that will hopefully hold valuable learning opportunities for us all. There will be an extended networking period for us to get to know one another better, and a ceremonial planting of a tree of sanctuary in the Civic grounds to conclude. The event is open to professionals and individuals from sanctuary backgrounds. If you’d like to come along, book your space here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1298945012499?aff=oddtdtcreator
Tom Lynam is our City of Sanctuary Officer and will be happy to help with any queries.
