Refugee Week 2023

Founded in 1998 in the UK and held every year around World Refugee Day on the 20 June, Refugee Week 2023 will be recognising its 25th anniversary (19-25 June 2023).

Solent University submitted its application to become a University of Sanctuary at the start of 2023 and has delivered a range of activities, events, and projects over the 2022-23 academic year in support of its commitment to changing the lives of those seeking sanctuary. Highlights include:

• Hopes & Dreams showcased a series of 20-minute performances, which were developed from a range of creative pieces produced by 45 people seeking sanctuary who attended a student led Community Creative Art Day held at Solent in October 2022. The day explored the themes of welcome across communities and individuals hopes and dreams for the future.
• Our inaugural Civic Exchange Network in December 2022 was supported by Paul Woodman, Trustee of Southampton City of Sanctuary and explored the work being undertaken by Solent and other organisations to create a city of welcome.
• We provided staff and external colleagues working in organisations supporting refugees with training on ‘Accessing higher education for young refugee and asylum seekers’ delivered by Refugee Education.
• Solent launched its inaugural Sanctuary Week in March to better understand and tackle a range of topics associated with immigration in the UK and was proud to gain exclusive showing of ‘My Fair Share’ and invite Sonia Gale, Director at Gale Force Films to screen her award-winning documentary ‘Hostile’.
• As official partner of local radio station Unity 101, our monthly Community Hour delivered by Geeta Uppal, Senior Access and Widening Participation Officer discussed the topic of Solent, a place of Sanctuary in May 2023. You can listen here.
• In collaboration with Southampton Sotonettes (Woman’s Institute) we are excited to be opening Café Welcome in June 2023 which will support ladies across the city to further develop their conversational English, build friendships and participate in a range of creative activities.

If you would like to find out more about how you can get involved in future activities, projects, or events to support communities seeking sanctuary, why not pop along to our ‘University of Sanctuary’ drop in on Monday 19 June between 11am-12.30pm in the Research Hub, Engage Space, (RM010).

If you are not available at this time but would still like to find out more about how you can get involved, please contact us.