Speaking out in Refugee Week

Last week was Refugee Week across the UK where we come together across the country to celebrate the great contribution that refugees have made to our country. I started the week in Oxford where there was an innovative conference, from fortress Europe to sanctuary Europe, which brought together national NGOs, community based groups and academics.

I haven’t attended such an event before which sought to bring these different sectors together, and it was great to see the Red Cross, City of Sanctuary and the Refugee Studies Centre at the University of Oxford working together to make this event happen. I hope we see similar such events in future.

I also travelled up to Newcastle to speak at a packed meeting in the City Library on building a social movement to welcome asylum seekers and refugees. It was great that this event was sold out and to feel the energy and passion in this great city to support asylum seekers and refugees.