Refugee Week highlights from local partners

Hear from our Refugee Week Grant recipients as they share how their community-led events celebrated the resilience, culture, and contributions of refugees across the borough.

As part of our commitment to being a Borough of Sanctuary, our Refugee Week Grants scheme has awarded over £7,000 to support six non-profit groups and organisations in delivering activities and events during Refugee Week (16 to 22 June 2025). 

The week was filled with community-led events of performance, connection, speakers and learning to celebrate the resilience, culture, and contributions of refugees across the borough. 

Read some reflections from some of the recipients about their event and the week. 

Ukrainian Social Club CIC 

Our event brought together members of the community in a spirit of solidarity, creativity, and shared understanding. It was a meaningful opportunity to celebrate resilience and promote inclusivity through art, dancing and singing together, and sharing stories and cultural traditions. The event created a warm and welcoming space for connection, where people of all backgrounds could come together, express themselves, and feel seen and heard. We’re grateful for the support of Refugee Week and proud to be part of this important celebration.

Richmond EAL Friendship Group 

Many thanks to Richmond Council Refugee Services for providing us with a grant to cover some of these activities, and to Teddington Library for their support.  

On Saturday 21 June, we hosted the Summer garden party and launch of the Voices of Richmond Archive at Teddington Library, for which we helped to organise entertainment in the form of dynamic Turkish dancing from Logo Dance School, and melodious singing from Mariia Deliss. Watch videos of the dancing and singing below. 

Here are some of the highlights. We hope everyone enjoyed themselves as much as we did! 

Find out more about Richmond EAL's Refugee Week celebration.

Refugees Welcome in Richmond 

Thanks very much to everyone who supported this year’s Refugee Week, especially those who attended our event on Monday 16 June. Special thanks to our speakers and volunteers, and to Richmond Council’s Refugee Services for a grant in support of this event.

Over 40 guests joined us at the Vineyard Community Centre for an evening of artistic inspiration in Refugee Week 2025.

Our speakers included Rita Piglionica from Turner’s House who spoke about the Tales & Travels project supporting the creativity of migrant women; Samira Kitman, who shared her experience of seeking sanctuary and rescuing over 500 endangered artworks by major Afghan artists, and Julia Hall, whose painstakingly beautiful work weaves the stories of refugee women through paintings of the clothes they wear.

Samira also provided some authentically Afghan snacks and biscuits, which we very much enjoyed!

Find out more about the Refugees Welcome in Richmond event.

Refugee resettlement and support services

Find out about our refugee resettlement and support services and other refugee support networks in the borough.

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