Refugee Week 2024 🌎

This blog is dedicated to an important cause - Refugee week! 🌍 👏

Refugee Week has been running in the UK since 1998 and is always the week around World Refugee Day (20 June). This year it will be 17-23rd June 2024 and the theme is ‘Our Home’.

It’s an umbrella festival which means there’s activity taking place everywhere. There are thousands of events taking place all across the UK (including Scotland, Wales and Ireland) as well as many new international festivals (17 in total!)

We’ve rounded a few events and resources we think you’d be interested in, see below:

Events

1. We Dare to Dream + Screen-Talk with director Waad al-Kateab

Wed 19 June 2024, 18:15

Waad Al-Kateab, movie director, tells the story of refugee athletes from Iran, Syria, South Sudan and Cameroon who swim, run and fight their way to opportunity and safety in host nations across the world.

Find out more here.

2. London Exhibition of Freedom: An International Photographic Exhibition by Freedom from Torture.

A gallery exhibition of the submissions from the ‘’What Does Freedom Mean to You’ competition organised to fundraise for Freedom from Torture, a charity which supports refugee survivors of torture in the UK.

Find out more here.

3. London Library Refugee Week - The R.A.P. Party @The London Library: Refugee Week (In person)

Thu, 20 June 2024 19:00 - 21:30

Poet and playwright Inua Ellams brings his exhilarating live literature to The London Library in collaboration with Counterpoints Art. The night will include a line-up of poets from across a spectrum of refugee and migrant backgrounds to explore the theme of Refugee Week 2024: 'Our Home'.

Find out more here.

4. AZMARI BET X REFUGEE WEEK SPECIAL - Poetry, Theatre, Music

June 8 @ 7:00 pm

Come along for a night of amazing music, poetry and theatre recreating the experience of an Azmari Bet (Part of the Ethiopian community).

Find out more here.

5. Home/Land: Worthing Festival & Refugee Week Exhibition

June 11-23

The Socially Engaged Art Salon (SEAS) are holding an exhibition that delves into the multifaceted themes of home, refugees, migration, displacement, and diasporic sensibilities. Festival takes place in Brighton.

Find out more here.

6. Queer Migrant Pride Fest 2024

23 June, 12 - 9pm

Celebrate Refugee Week and Pride month with a free day festival. With stalls, activities and talks from the LGBTQ+ community groups and services, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!

Find out more here.

7. Refugee Week Conversation Cafe and Access Arts Session

18th June, 1- 4:30pm

Refugee Roots and the Nottingham Playhouse offer a weekly conversation group and art session together. An extra special Refugee Week session will be held, offering a chance for new members to join the group.

Find out more here.

8. REFUGEE WEEK WALK ON THE LINE - guided walk

22 June , 2- 5pm

The Line team is hosting a guided walk (with activities) on The Line for refugees, migrants, displaced people, asylum seekers and anyone who wants to show their support and care. The walk is also part of The Great Get Together, a joint initiative of Refugee Week UK and The Jo Cox Foundation.

Find out more here.

9. FROM THE LIPS TO THE MOON - Immersive Space

30 June, 7:30 - 10pm

Immerse yourself in improvised music, poetry and visuals led by electronic musician Pouya Ehsaei and writer-performer Tara Fatehi.

Find out more here.

10. HOME: SHORT FILMS SCREENING + Q&A

30 June, 3 - 5pm

Join us for a programme of exceptional short films where each title has been written and directed by a refugee filmmaker or draws on real life experience. These films demonstrate the power of cinema and humanise struggle and injustice through art.

The screening is followed by a Q&A hosted by Sarah Agha with the filmmakers on stage.

Find out more here.

11. There and Here – A Celebration (Theatre Play)

22 June, 11am - 4pm

Enjoy artist and refugee-led arts, craft and dance workshops, live music and a communal lunch.

Find out more here.

Resources

Free BFI Player Refugee Week Collection of free films. Link here. 

Red Cross: Refugee Week Teaching Tools. Link here. 

BBC Refugee Week Teaching Resources. Link here.

Media Toolkit -  for media organisations seeking to support, employ or deliver projects with those who have a background of forced migration. Link here.

Refugee Week Conference Summary 2024 - access to resources, workshops etc shared at the conference. Link here.

How to offer support to Refugees. Link here. 

‘Stories of migration’- Online access to objections from migrants displayed at the national Maritime Museum. Link here.

‘Simple Acts Countdown: Get Active’ - ways to get involved and provide help/support for refugees. Link here. 

‘Discover A Story’ - stories and anecdotes straight from refugees in the form of podcasts, audio books, poetry anthologies, novels and more. Link here.