From Asylum Welcome:
“FOOTBALL FOR SOLIDARITY
Sunday 15 June, 2pm
Oxford Phoenix vs Leys Lions
Oxford Academy, Sandy Lane West,
Oxford OX4 6JZ
A welcoming community fixture celebrating solidarity through sport. Now in its second year, this ‘displaced derby’ brings together two local teams whose members have sought safety in Oxford.”
From Asylum Welcome (and one of our favourite annual events):
“OXFORD SANCTUARY FAIR
Tuesday 17 June, 10am – 5pm
Oxford Town Hall, St Aldate’s, Oxford OX1 1BX
Join us for a day of community
connection with:
• Info stalls
• Panel discussions
• Food & refreshments
• Children’s activities
• Open mic
• Workshops
Free entry – just drop in or register at: tinyurl.com/sanctuaryfair2025
Organised by Asylum Welcome, the University of Oxford, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford City Council, Oxford County Council
Refreshments provided”
On the 19th of June, Wheatley Refugee Support Group will be collecting books and food at the URC Church Hall, Crown Square, Wheatley OX33 1UE from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.
The books are being collected on behalf of Global Aid Network (GAiN). Please bring books to help people learn English – materials suitable for adults and children are both wanted, for use in libraries in Nigeria.
The food is being collected on behalf of Asylum Welcome. The group would particularly welcome rice; cooking oil; UHT milk; tinned tomatoes, sweetcorn, beans, fruit, and fish; and sugar. Please do not bring meat. New toiletries – body wash, sanitary products, toothpase, and shampoo also warmly welcomed.
For further information, email wheatleyrefugeegroup [at] gmail.com
Thank you for your support!
From Refugee Support Group: “Free Screening of Fremont at Reading Biscuit Factory, 19.00, doors open from 18:30.
Click here for your free tickets:
🎬 Watch the trailer
✨Fremont tells the story of Donya, a young Afghan who moved to California after working as a translator for the American army. She now spends her days in a fortune cookie factory and her nights wrestling with insomnia and the guilt of her past. In a quiet act of reaching out, she sends an unconventional message to the world hidden in a cookie. Tinged with Jarmuschian deadpan humour, this tender immigrant tale stars real-life refugee Anaita Wali Zada, alongside Gregg Turkington and Jeremy Allen White (The Bear) as a heartthrob mechanic.”
From the Migration and Refugees Research Network, Oxford Brookes University:
“Come and join us at Oxford Brookes University for an eye-openingworkshop prepared by the Fundamental Rights, Equality andDiversity (FRED) Research Group of the School of Law and theMigration and Refugees Network. This event will delve into the complexities of power imbalances,economic disparities, and social injustices that perpetuate thiszero-sum game. Hear from experts in the field, engage in thought-provoking conversations, and gain a deeper understanding of thechallenges faced by workers worldwide. Don’t miss this opportunityto be part of the conversation and advocate for change!Registration commences at 9:15 AM, and the workshop commencesat 10 AM following an opening from Professor Joe Tah, Pro-ViceChancellor for Research at Oxford Brookes University.Tickets are free, but mandatory forentry. Please book via Eventbrite.
Art in the Park 2025
📍 Campbell Park, Milton Keynes
📅 Saturday 21st June 2025
🕐 1:00pm – 9:00pm
🎟️ Free entry
“Join Milton Keynes Islamic Arts and Culture (MKIAC) for Art in the Park 2025, a vibrant, free, family-friendly festival celebrating culture, diversity, and creative expression. Taking place during Refugee Week, this year’s festival embraces the theme of “Belonging”, spotlighting the resilience, stories, and contributions of refugees through a rich programme of music, dance, and art.
🎭 Highlights include:
Parade of Colours – A dynamic and inclusive procession led by Tamzyn from Kinetika Bloco with artwork by Emma Garofalo.
Headline Performance by Sefo Kanuteh – Renowned Gambian Kora player.
London Syrian Ensemble – A powerful fusion of Syrian musical traditions.
Traditional performances by Greek, Afghan, Yemeni, and Satyam Dance groups.
Interactive Art Marquee – Tote bag making, Islamic calligraphy workshops with Abu Yahya, and henna art.
Global Food Village – Delicious cuisines from around the world.
Funfair – Family fun for all ages.
The festival invites everyone to participate in the Parade of Colours and help celebrate cultural identity, community, and environmental sustainability. Supported by MK College, MK City Council, Arts Council England, and others, Art in the Park 2025 offers a joyful space for connection and creativity.”
From Refugee Support Group
“Are We There Yet? takes a light-hearted approach to some tough issues. Whilst the elites syphon up the wealth and appear to play with our rights like a game, hoarding more than they could spend in a million lifetimes, the rest of us are left wondering: will it ever change?
Told through the lens of our diverse community, drawing on their experiences via comedy, multilingual storytelling, and absurd spectacle, the play delivers a message of hope, unity and compassion. When we experience truth, we find it is not just powerful, it is beautiful.
There will be a Q&A with the cast hosted by BBC Radio 3’s Fiona Talkington after the show.
It was a joy to hear back from a wide range of churches of different types and sizes from across the Thames Valley who celebrated Refugee Week with services and special events. We hope the examples below will inspire you to get involved in Refugee Week next year (15th – 21st June 2025) … and to be standing with refugees all year round!
had a refugee-themed service in which they used quotes from Malala’s stories of refugee children and stories of families newly arrived in Oxfordshire: Syrian families in Oxford (arriving via Community Sponsorship) and Witney (funded by West Oxfordshire) and the Palestinian refugee family whom Wesley Memorial Methodist Church sponsored in Oxford. They also shared the Warsaw Shire poem ‘Home’ and a short video about the work of Asylum Welcome. The church has designated Asylum Welcome as their project for the next year and will be fundraising for it.
the sermon on the Sunday leading in to Refugee Week focused on refugees and our calling to be welcoming, supportive and challenging of the ‘hostile environment’ using the parable of the tiny mustard seed growing into a huge bush providing shelter and protection for all. On the Tuesday of Refugee Week there was a well attended concert raising money for Freedom from Torture; on Wednesday the usual weekly Ukraine Friendship Centre (approx. 60 attending); and on Friday ‘Songs of Sanctuary’, a celebration of Sanctuary Hosting with over 80 people including existing hosts, guests and local residents. Starling Singers, a global folk band, provided lively, engaging music, and volunteers from the church and Asylum Welcome provided a buffet meal for all. Finally on the Wednesday after Refugee Week, St Michael and All Angels were pleased to be one of several Oxford venues for the Yazidi women’s choir on a short visit to the UK organised by the Ammar Foundation.
a village which has welcomed dozens of Ukrainian refugees, celebrated Refugee Week at its regular Sunday afternoon service. During the sermon slot, the congregation discussed facts and questions relating to refugees’ situation and prayed a Refugee Week prayer from CCOW.
marked Refugee Week in their Sunday morning service. They had a short slot focusing on what it is like to be a refugee, including an interview based on personal experience and some of the resources from Welcome Churches.
“At Greyfriars Church we celebrated refugee week with two events. Our regular language and cooking class, ‘Conversational Kitchen’ had a bring and share theme. Students brought in food from their own culture or cooked it on-site. They were also invited to bring family/friends. During our time together we shared music, games, clothes, stories and artwork from our countries. It was a great chance to talk about our home country and learn about what other people love about their own country. The second event was led by Resettlement CIC. There were live performances of song and dance from our Ukrainian and Iranian friends and a great chance to come together sharing food and building community.”
had a Refugee Sunday service on the theme of “Home” and an international bring and share lunch. Sarah shared: “We had a happy time, with a good mix of nationalities – Iran, El Salvador, Uganda, UK, South African. The highlight was a song with Thank You Lord as the chorus in all those languages! You can see the service on our YouTube / Facebook page. Thanks so much for the conversation starters which we put on all the tables. I think I’ll be using them again.”
held an International Service followed by an international bring-and-share buffet lunch on Refugee Sunday. The church was decorated with flags from around the world and at the start of the service (attended by about 170) people were invited to come up and welcome everyone in their own language and stick a dot on the world map for places they regarded as “home” – about 15 different greetings were shared and echoed back by the congregation. Later there were presentations about the church’s international ministry – the English conversation class, international café and new Cantonese Bible study group – and these friends from Hong Kong sang “Give thanks with a grateful heart” in Cantonese and English. Prayers used included CCOW’s (modern) prayer for Refugee Week 2024, a prayer for transformation from the Northumbria community and a prayer for DBC’s international ministries. Around 80 people stayed after the service to enjoy fellowship together and sample dishes from many different countries. CCOW’s multilingual “Our Home” placemats and conversation starter cards provided a talking point and something to colour in.
All Saints’, North Moreton
Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic Church, Faringdon
Didcot Baptist Church
Emmanuel Church, Oxford
Greyfriars, Reading
Orchard Baptist Church, Bicester
St Edburg’s, Bicester (hosting an event for Bicester Refugee Support Group)
St Michael & All Angels, Summertown, Oxford
Thatcham Baptist Church
The Haven, Banbury URC
Woodstock Methodist Church
