This week is Refugee Week and the theme for this year is ‘Our Home’. It’s a time where you can reflect what home means to you and how we can make Our Home more welcoming, safe and sustainable for all.
We’re sharing what our projects and services working with refugees have been doing, sharing stories and recent news and what you can do to support refugees.
In Refugee Week we held a Zoom meeting with partners from Salford Diocese, Jesuit Refugee Service, St Chad’s Sanctuary and our own Brushstrokes Community Project.
We shared ideas, heard from experts and discussed our experience of providing support to refugees. The event was well attended and is part of our Welcoming Church initiative.
Sophia House provides a safe and welcoming home for female refugees in Birmingham. Here we share a recent success story about one of our tenants who recently moved into her own flat.
‘M’ was supported by our staff to move into her own flat, and said, “I would never have done it without their input, applying for grants on my behalf and also giving me emotional and moral support. It was very difficult for me when I moved but they assured me everything will be OK and it’s true as my flat is now coming together.”
Nicolas Barré House
Nicolas Barré guests and St John Henry Newman parishioners celebrated their first Refugee Week in style. They shared fish and chips, grey peas (a local delicacy), home made cakes and other food treats.
We planted some vegetables and flowers in the new planters, working together and making our shared home more colourful.
As entertainment they held a table tennis competition, with Henry taking the trophy and Hatef coming a close second. The winner’s trophy was presented by Mr Bradley, an elder of the parish who is a former Midlands County Table Tennis champion.
One of our guests performed some amazing traditional Persian music.
Fr. Craig said, ‘We enjoyed lots of fun and laughter along the way – that’s what home should feel like! As always thanks to the team who made it happen!
Brushstrokes Community Project
Brushstrokes Community Project celebrated Refugee Week with two brilliant pieces of news.
First up they shared that Sport England had invested in Brushstrokes Wellness and Exercise programme through a 2 year grant. This means Brushstrokes can provide fitness activities for all who visit. Their second piece of news was that Bayer Ghafoori, a Brushstrokes volunteer, was awarded a 50forWM50 award. The West Midlands Lieutenancy 50forWM50 campaign, supported by United by 2022, aims to recognise and thank local volunteers who are making a real difference. Bayer is one of 50 volunteers across the region to receive the award, congratulations Bayer! “Her kindness is her superpower!”
