The 19 to 25 June 2023 marks Refugee Week, an annual festival celebrating the amazing contributions of refugees, and the theme for 2023 is ‘compassion’.

Refugee Week is the world’s largest arts and culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.

The Royal Borough of Greenwich has a proud history of supporting those fleeing war and persecution, who want to make our borough their home.

There are many events happening throughout the week, including our Refugee Week Event at the Town Hall on Friday 23rd June 2023, from 7 to 9pm.

The event will feature speeches from Cabinet Members as well as a performance from Citizens of the World Choir, the UK’s leading refugee choir which was founded in the borough.

Creating Ground, a local non-for-profit organisation that works with women from migrant backgrounds to promote cross-cultural awareness, learning and sharing across different communities through collaborative arts and educational projects, will also be featured at the event.

Creating Ground has helped us shape the advice we give refugees to people fleeing war to find accommodation in our borough.

Cllr Denise Scott-McDonald, Cabinet Member for Health and Adults’ Social Care, said: “We are so proud to celebrate the wonderful contributions that refugees, asylum seekers and migrants have made to our borough and beyond for Refugee Week 2023.

“Anyone who seeks to make Royal Greenwich their home is welcome here – no matter where you are from in the world.”

Cllr Adel Khaireh, Cabinet Member for Equality, Culture and Communities, said: “We know that there are still some that use dangerous and unsettling rhetoric, so it is more important than ever to stand up for the rights of refugees both locally and across the UK.

“Together we can create a shared understanding of compassion to ensure we are extending it widely to all.”

Refugee week comes as the Council moves one step closer to becoming a Borough of Sanctuary following the approval of a new policy to support refugees, migrants and asylum seekers, because we believe that everyone deserves a safe place to live.

Royal Greenwich has been working towards becoming a Borough of Sanctuary since a motion was passed by all cross-party councillors in 2021. The launch of the policy is the final step in this process.

If you would like to attend the Refugee Week Event, please contact [email protected]. Please note that tickets are available on a first come first served basis. Please let the team know if you have any accessibility requirements or allergies.

There are many other ways you can get involved and celebrate Refugee Week, by visiting the Refugee Week website.