Refugee Week Update - March 2008

Welcome to the Refugee Week update for March 2008. This months update includes information on the National Year of Reading, launches the Community Chest funding scheme and highlights employment opportunities for refugees at the Victoria & Albert Museum.

News Bulletin

Refugee Week Update - March 2008

Welcome to the Refugee Week update for March 2008. This months update includes information on the National Year of Reading, launches the Community Chest funding scheme and highlights employment opportunities for refugees at the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Escape in the National Year of Reading

2008 is the National Year of Reading – a celebration of reading in all its forms which aims to help build a greater national passion for reading.

Each month will see a number of events taking place across the UK based on a certain theme. The chosen theme for June is ‘Reading Escapes’ defined as “how reading helps you escape into different worlds” - we think ties in perfectly with Refugee Week! National Year of Reading events will be taking place in your local area and could be a great platform to highlight literature by or about the refugee experience.

For more information check out the National Year of Reading website

Audience at Refugee Week UK Conference 2008

Community Chest Funding scheme

The Community Chest funding scheme is running again this year.

This is a small grants scheme open to Refugee Community and other organisations working with refugees / asylum seekers, who are based in Greater London and plan to hold a Refugee Week event.

Grants will be for £1000 or less, and must go towards the costs of holding an event during Refugee Week 2008. The deadline for completed applications is Monday 7th April, and successful organisations will be notified in the week beginning 21st April.

As the scheme is funded by London Councils, the scheme is unfortunately restricted to organisations based within Greater London.

Download a Community Chest application form and funding criteria

Fellowships offered to refugees

The Rayne Foundation is now welcoming applications to participate in a residential taking place on 8 and 9 June in central London. The closing date is Friday 27 April. 20 refugees from across the UK will have the chance to develop career and personal development plans and to widen their vision and networks. From those attending a small group will be selected for the pilot Fellowship programme.

Full details are given in the Rayne Fellowships for Refugees website

Refugee Week UK Conference

The Refugee Week UK conference in February was attended by over 130 representatives of Refugee Community Organisations, Local Authorities, service providers, schools and individuals from across the UK.

The day consisted of examples good practice, workshops and the opportunity for individuals and organisations from across the UK to network and create partnerships.

Click here to read a report of the conference from Chris Joesph of Flight Paths

Are you a refugee?

Are you also a story teller, a museum guide, a crafts-person, or a performer?

Paid staff and volunteers wanted for Refugee Week

The Victoria and Albert Museum is looking for volunteers to take part in its Refugee Week (16 – 22 June) programme of events to be held at South Kensington and Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood.

They need paid staff and volunteers for the following events:

My V&A

Refugee Arts (paid staff)

They are looking for 2 individuals to lead separate craft workshops.These individuals should be highly skilled practitioners of a traditional craft from their country of origin and should also have the ability to transmit these skills to students.They will need to have a good level of English.These sessions (probably 4 hour morning or afternoon slots) will be paid.

Storytellers (paid)

They are seeking 2 storytellers from refugee backgrounds to entertain children (8 years and over) with fascinating stories from their countries of origin.They will need to have considerable experience of storytelling and working with children. They will also need to have an excellent command of English. It would also help if they can prepare audio visual material to accompany their performances.These sessions will be paid.

Public tours of the V&A (volunteers)

Tours led by Refugees who will use the objects in the galleries as a springboard for their own highly personal stories.

They are looking for volunteers with engaging personalities and a good command of spoken English.They should preferably have had experience of public speaking or be confident guiding up to 20 people. As they will need to research and prepare their own tours, they must be able to work independently. They will need to make a number of visits to the V&A when devising their tours so should ensure they have time to do this when accepting. The V&A will provide support and guidance and reimburse travel expenses with lunch included on the day of the tour.

Refugee Performance (volunteers)

The V&A are looking for refugee teenagers who belong to existing performance groups to prepare and perform short programmes of music, dance, drama or storytelling.

Display of Refugee Art (volunteers)

The V&A hope to mount a display of refugee children’s art at Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood. They would be grateful for any help you may be able to provide in sourcing such work.

If you are interested in applying to participate in any of these events, please contact Clare Paul (ESOL & Arts Education Officer ) at c.paul@vam.ac.uk or telephone: 07905 226423

Preferably by March 11th