Extending the hand of friendship in Refugee Week

Brighton Dome & Brighton Museum play host to the ‘Together’ Community Day on Sunday 23 June – the centrepiece of the city’s Refugee Week celebrations this year.

People from all communities have put together a fantastic free programme of activities to help bring people together, including art exhibitions, drumming workshops, book readings, puppet making, screenings and table tennis. 

Come and join us at the Together Community Day from 11am to 4pm. It’s one of a number of events across the city throughout Refugee Week, running from Monday 17 to Sunday 23 June.  

• Visit the Sanctuary on Sea website for details of the community events celebrating Refugee Week

Library of Sanctuary

The city’s library service is also launching its work with the community to become a Library of Sanctuary, with exhibitions at Jubilee Library and events highlighting Refugee Week. 

Events include a Library of Sanctuary launch event for women between 10am and 12.30pm on Wednesday 19 June at Jubilee Library, with food, performance, and discussion with the Brighton & Hove Library Service and the Network of International Women. 

• See the list of what’s going on in the city’s libraries to celebrate Refugee Week

‘You, me and those who came before’

The theme of Refugee Week 2019, ‘You, me and those who came before’, is an invitation to explore the lives of refugees – and those who have welcomed them – throughout the generations. 

The UN report that the world is witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record. An unprecedented 68.5 million people around the world have been forced from home. Among them are nearly 25.4 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18.

Councillor Nancy Platts, leader of the council, said: “It must be a terrifying experience to be forced to flee your home and end up in a foreign country in need of a new home, a new job and to have to do it all in a new language. 

“I’m proud that the people of our city have extended the hand of friendship to refugees and become a City of Sanctuary.

“We have a very active community of organisations who work with us to provide a culture of welcome in Brighton & Hove.

“Brighton Table Tennis Club is one of the many groups that have created an inclusive place in the city. It is the UK’s first Sports Club of Sanctuary and has been highlighted by the UN refugee agency for its work.” 

Looking for landlords

The council is looking for more private sector landlords to work with us to provide homes for some of the world’s most vulnerable refugees.

The city has already taken 13 Syrian households as part of the national Vulnerable Person’s Resettlement Scheme. 

The government funds local authorities for refugees arriving here through this scheme, which pays to support them to settle in a new country, including helping the children to settle in local schools.

If any landlords would like to find out more about helping to resettle refugees, please email refugeehelp@brighton-hove.gov.uk or call 01273 291248.