Churches urged to engage with refugee issues
 Churches across Norwich are being urged to get informed and involved with refugee issues in the city, starting with Refugee Week, from June 16 to 21.
Refugee Week is a UK-wide programme of arts, cultural and educational events that celebrates the contribution of refugees to the UK, and encourages better understanding among communities.
The events and activities for Refugee Week in Norwich have been coordinated by John Thompson on behalf of the Norwich Multi-Agency Forum for Asylum Seekers and Refugees, whose chairman is Rev Hereward Cooke
What’s happening during the week:
Norfolk Library & Information Service Book displays in libraries.
Bridewell Museum, Bridewell Alley, Norwich. Mini Exhibition – Norwich
has hosted thousands of refugees over the years. Personal stories
behind the headlines. Craft activities and family trails. Normal Museum
admission charge, Tuesday-Friday, 10-4.30pm Info: 01603 629127
Photographic display by Lydia Martin, who is also recording
conversations with refugees living in Norwich (and those working with
them), at Norwich Anglican Cathedral (opening hours 8am-7pm). The
conversations will be broadcast on Community Chest, Future Radio -
96.9fm. Monday-Friday 10-12pm. Info Lydia: 07818 267 150 or email:
“Gervelie's Journey” (a child’s refugee diary) Authors Annemarie
Young and Anthony Robinson will be present (with Gervelie herself!)
at the Red Cross official book launch, Coronation Road, Norwich.
5-7pm. Copies will be sold at a subsidised rate. The book will also be
displayed during Refugee Week at the Millennium Library and at
Waterstones (Arcade and Castle Street bookshops), or order online from
Amazon. Info Andy Hewett 07793 512 207
Voluntary Sector Refugee Network - East England offers a free halfday
training in “Supporting Refugee Organisations”: organisation
structure and management (Lynn Jarvis); fundraising (Shpetim Alimeta);
immigration advice (Migrant Gateway). Lunch! Friends Meeting House,
Upper Goat Lane, Norwich. 10.30-2.30pm. Reserve your place by
Norwich Arts Centre “Turning up the temperature”, an evening of
spoken word and performance from 8pm. Introducing Ben Mellor,
award winning poet, Kei Miller, and singer song writer Samia Mailk.
Organised by New Writing Partnership, supporting Refugee Week as part of
Tickets (£7, £5) Norwich Arts Centre, St Benedict’s Street 01603 660 352
Wednesday 18th
New Writing Partnership presents “Connecting Worlds” at the
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, 5-8pm, screening filmed poems
developed as part of Norwich City of Refuge Programme. Gretel Ehrlich,
Geoff Dyer, Eduardo Agualusa and Mia Couto, reading from their work
as part of the Worlds Programme. In the breaks you can watch a set of
short films made by young people as part of a City of Refuge project.
“Reverse ESOL” in the Forum, 2-4pm. Come and learn a bit more
about languages near the Learning Shop! Imagine being a refugee by
taking on such strange new tongues as Polish, Czech, German, Swahili,
Notre Dame High School An evening of Indian dance, Irish dance and
a showcase of students' Refugee Week performance work from 7.30pm
at St John's Hall, Notre Dame, Surrey Street. £3 admission with light
refreshments. Info: 01603 611431
Norwich International Youth Project invites you to interact with young
people from across the world. We hope to display some of our recently
produced work. Enjoy a ‘smashing’ game of table tennis, or relax in the
garden with some Eastern Chai. 5-7 Friends Meeting House, Upper
Family Fun Event at the Bridewell Museum (entry free this Saturday!)
Mini Exhibition - how the city has hosted refugees over the years.
Family trails and craft activities throughout the day – 10am–5pm
11am Join Melissa Hawker for a short talk about the contributions that
refugees have made to our city, including the Strangers, who
rejuvenated our precious weaving industry and the shoe-making
pioneers, whose businesses helped to develop an industry that
went on to produce seven million shoes every year.
2.30 - 4pm the journeys of British evacuee and German refugee
children, and their various experiences of fleeing the horrors of war.
Info: The Bridewell, Bridewell Alley, Norwich , NR2 1AQ, 01603 629127
Admission is free unless otherwise indicated.
By courtesy of www.networknorwich.co.uk |
