It is early June and for many people in Sunderland that can only mean one thing: Refugee Week is upon us again! So, what events are planned for refugee week this year by the banks of the River Wear?
Refugee Week in Sunderland
The events begin with an interfaith lunch at Sunderland College City Campus on Thursday 11 June from 12 till 2 pm. This is being hosted as part of the Eden Project big lunch and the Sunderland interfaith forum.
Two days later, those who enjoy making kites and flying them will have a great opportunity to do just that, with the Courageous Kites event from 11 am to 2 pm at Roker Life. This will involve Afghan food, kite-making and music.
On Monday 15 June will be the all-important Walk of Sanctuary. There will also be a cricket match between YAV and the teaching union NAS/UWT at Wearmouth Cricket Club, beginning at 6 pm, with spectators welcome. The Walk of Sanctuary begins at 10 am, meeting at 9:30. There will be a picnic in Barnes Park at 1:30 pm.
Following the cricket match on Monday 15 June, will be a football tournament at Goals on 16 June, organised by Sunderland College and YAV. This will take place from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, preceded by a free breakfast from 9:30 AM.
Wednesday 17 June will see a breakfast with the refugee event at Back on the Map from 10 am to 12 noon where you can share breakfast, meet refugees and hear their stories. Meanwhile the FODI Refugee Week Lunch takes place at St Mary’s Catholic Centre between 12 noon and 3.00 pm.
On Thursday 18 June there will be another Refugee Week lunch at the Eagle Building between 12 noon and 2 pm.
At Sunderland College City Campus there will be a storytelling event where students engage with refugee experiences between 1 and 2 pm.
Also on Thursday is a play performed by Sunderland College students at the Sunderland College Bede campus. The following day will see community yoga and dance for women between 10 and 12 noon at the FODI women’s group at Trinity Church. There will also be storytelling at Sunderland College Bede Campus between 1 and 2 pm.
On Saturday 20 June there will be a live, immersive mixed reality experience event at the Southpaw studios, with three performances at 12 noon, 3 pm and 6:30 pm, with each performance lasting an hour.
To round off this excellent and varied week of events there will be a Sunderland Music City and Unity In the Community music event, from 12:30 to 4:30 pm at Sunderland Minster.
This will include DJ Banko, Sunderland Symphony Orchestra, Lagos to Longbenton, Small Town Brass and Sacred Sounds CIC.
Breaking down barriers and building mutual understanding
I asked Stephen Newman for his thoughts about the Refugee Week programme in Sunderland. He replied:
“So many organisations and groups have come together to create a packed programme of events for Refugee Week in Sunderland, typifying the spirit of unity and community engagement which exists in the city. More than ever this year organisers are trying to facilitate interaction between refugees and long term Sunderland residents as a way of breaking down barriers and building mutual understanding, at a time when some outside actors have an interest in sowing division”.
For further information please contact Stephen Newman at s.newman@fodisunderland.org .
