Refugee Week 2024 in Birmingham

Published: Friday, 14th June 2024

Birmingham is renowned for the warm welcome it gives to all who come here - including asylum seekers and refugees fleeing war or persecution in their homelands.

Monday (17 June) marks the star of Refugee Week, which raises awareness about the contributions of refugees, dispels myths and informs of the facts and genuine issues.

Birmingham became a City of Sanctuary since 2015 and the council’s City of Sanctuary policy demonstrates its commitment to Birmingham being a place of welcome and refuge for people fleeing violence and persecution.

This year’s theme is Our Home: underlying the importance of a place to call home where we feel safe, are free to be ourselves, and feel loved.

Often sanctuary seekers have had their homes taken from them, through war, violence, and persecution, and have had to flee and leave their homes behind.

Birmingham City Council collaborates with various partner organisations, including Celebrating Sanctuary, to deliver projects which support people seeking asylum, people resettled through Government programmes from Syria and Afghanistan and people seeking refuge through the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

On 20 June - World Refugee Day - the Library of Birmingham will be lit orange to show our support for refugees.

Refugee Week begins with a takeover event at the MAC in Cannon Hill Park, tomorrow (Saturday, 15 June), packed with performances by various artists featuring music, song, spoken word, dance and stalls with activities and information.

For a full itinerary of what’s happening in Birmingham go to the Celebrating Sanctuary website, where you’ll find a host of interesting and fun events.

There is also a free Refugee Week Film programme, organised by Counterpoints Arts and Other Cinemas – who have collaborated to produce this programme that will run throughout the week (17-24 June).

It consists of 6 short and 3 feature-length films which explore the Refugee Week theme of “Our Home.”

Full details can be found on the Refugee Week website.

rating button