For information about events across the region during Refugee Week please see information below.
Refugee Week 20 – 26 June 2011
Refugee Week is a unique opportunity to discover and celebrate the contributions refugees bring to the UK.
http://www.refugeeweek.org.uk/
During Refugee Week loads of events take place across the UK, all of which explore refugee experiences. Whatever you’re into - be it arts, music, food or just meeting people in your local area - Refugee Week will have an event for you. Visit the Events Calendar for this year's events
This year is the 60th anniversary of the Refugee Convention. In order to mark the occasion and link it to Refugee Week 2011, our theme for this year will be 60 Years of Contribution.
We're currently collecting stories and case studies about the contributions that refugees have made to Britain over the last 60 years. If you have any interesting stories or photos on this subject to share, we'd very much like to hear from you!
Follow this link for the events calendar http://www.refugeeweek.org.uk/Events/Events+Calendar.htm
Refugee Week Health Event organised by LASS.
flyer african community health group.pdf
Home Office - Refugees' contribution to UK life praised
Wednesday, 15 Jun 2011
Some of the world's most vulnerable refugees, who are now building new lives in the UK, today met immigration minister Damian Green and spoke to him about their experiences, ahead of Refugee Week.
At the Sheffield project, Mr Green heard more about the lives of the more than 3,300 people safely settled across the country through the Gateway Protection Programme(Opens in a new window), since it began in 2002.
The programme is run by the UK Border Agency in partnership with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. It brings up to 750 particularly vulnerable refugees to the UK every year from refugee camps and urban areas around the world.
Proud tradition of protection. Damian Green said: 'The UK has a proud tradition of helping those who need our protection and of giving genuine refugees the support they need to start a new life in the UK. 'I'm delighted today to have met some of the refugees who have benefited from this scheme and to hear about the significant contribution they have made to life in the UK.'
Life changing. In their first year in the UK, the refugees receive the support they need to integrate into British life, including housing, healthcare and education provided through partner agencies such as the Refugee Council and local authorities including Sheffield City Council.
Mr Green met refugees including Esther Freeman, a Liberian who had been living in a refugee camp in Guinea for 20 years until, in 2004, she came to Sheffield as part of the first intake of Gateway refugees. She said: 'I would never have lived peacefully without the Gateway Protection Programme. 'I couldn't be more grateful to the UK government and the Refugee Council for their support. The Gateway programme has changed my family’s life.' This year is a milestone in the global effort to support refugees, as 2011 marks the 60th anniversary of the UN Refugee Convention, the key legal document in defining who is a refugee, their rights and states' legal obligations. Refugee Week(Opens in a new window), which this year runs from June 20 to June 26, is a UK-wide programme of events celebrating the contribution of refugees to the UK.
Leicestershire City of Sanctuary
Refugee Week 2011 is nearly here and this Saturday you have two events to visit and enjoy!
Look Beyond the Label: Celebrating 60 Years of Sanctuary - in Town Hall Square
'A fusion of talented musicians, dancers and performers are drumming up noise for Refugee Week. Although we have different pasts, we also have a shared future - come along and celebrate the one world we live in with people from across the world and around the corner.'
Summer Fair - at the Quaker Meeting House, 16 Queens Road, Leicester LE2 1WP
'Opened by: John Sinclair from BBC Radio Leicester. Games, Mendhi, Live Music, Face Painting, Bouncy Castle, Indian Dance Group, Stalls: books, cakes, clothes, plants etc. - raising funds for Leicester City of Sanctuary.' Both run from 11am to 4pm so why not make a day of it and either:
spend some time in Town Hall Square enjoying the entertainment before calling into the Quaker Meeting House for refreshments, stalls and more entertainment then buy some home-made cakes and other goodies to take home ......
or call into the Quaker Meeting House first for a browse before the best stuff gets bought and stock up on home-made cakes for a picnic in Town Hall Square while enjoying the afternoon sunshine and party atmosphere!
Please note: the leicester@cityofsanctuary.com email address has now been replaced by leicester@cityofsanctuary.org