Council supports Refugee Week
Cheshire West and Chester Council is proudly supporting Refugee Week 2023 (19-25 June 2023), with a number of events taking place across the Borough.
Held every year around World Refugee Day on the 20 June, Refugee Week is a chance to recognise the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.
Libraries in the Borough will be promoting their Stories of Sanctuary collections, as well as hosting coffee mornings and afternoon teas, where people can come together and share their stories and experiences. Events taking place during the week include:
- Chester City of Sanctuary Group - Chester Cathedral Gardens walk through interactive installation. People are invited to add a ribbon with words of compassion in world languages, and take part in quizzes, crafts and poetry: Tuesday, 20 June - 11am to 3pm until Sunday, 25 June - 10am to 4pm.
- Great Boughton Library: Tuesday, 20 June - 10.30am to 12pm. Coffee morning
- World Refugee Day Event: Tuesday, 20 June - 3 to 5pm, St Thomas and All Saints Church, Ellesmere Port.
- Blacon Library: Wednesday, 21 June - 2pm to 4.30pm. Afternoon tea.
- Neston Library: Wednesday, 21 June - 10.30am to 12pm. Hosting a Culture Café, for people to bring something traditional along that represents their culture and to share stories over a cup of tea or coffee.
- Lache Library: Thursday, 22 June - 10.30am to 12pm. Coffee morning.
- Upton Library: Friday, 23 June - 10.30am to 12pm (please note this is also a commemoration of Jo Cox Great Get Together). Coffee morning.
- Helsby Library: Friday, 23 June - 10.30am to 12pm (as above). Coffee morning.
- Frodsham Library: Friday, 23 June - 10.30am to 12pm (as above). Coffee morning.
- Neston Library and Brio Leisure: Saturday, 24 June - 10am to 12pm. Great Walk Together (starting and finishing at the library). Share stories as you walk.
- Chester Library at Storyhouse - next Culture Café event takes place just after Refugee Week, on Monday, 26 June at 7pm.
The Council is committed to being a Borough of Sanctuary, helping to make sure people are safe and supported, and that those seeking sanctuary have access to services like health, education, work and benefits and that they are supported to integrate into local communities.
The Council continues to work alongside partners such as Cheshire, Halton and Warrington Race and Equality Centre (CHAWREC), forfutures Housing, Refugee Assist, Share, and the Chester City of Sanctuary Group, providing help and support for refugees from around the world, such as Afghanistan, Syria, and Ukraine who are building new lives for themselves in the area.
Cllr Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said:
As a Council we are delighted to support Refugee Week, and encourage people to attend what promise to be some great events taking place. We are very proud to welcome refugees and asylum seekers to the Borough and in 2021 the Council passed a motion with all parties agreeing that the borough should continue to be a place of sanctuary for anyone escaping violence, persecution and hatred. The theme of Refugee Week this year is compassion, and I would like to thank everyone in the Borough who has helped to welcome our guests and provided compassion and support to people in their time of need.
Anyone considering becoming a sponsor in the Homes for Ukraine scheme can email: refugeesupport@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk for more information.