Take a look at some of the ways others are incorporating Simple Acts into their events.
Visit our Simple Acts Forum for more advice and ideas.
- Cook a Dish from another Country
- Tell a Child a Story from another Country
- Watch a Movie about Refugees
- Do a Quiz on Refugees
- Say a little prayer for me
- Read a Book about Exile
- Find Five Facts about Refugees
- Visit a Refugee Week Event
- Have Tea With a Refugee
- Share a Song
- Join a Big Action Campaign in Support of Refugees
- Play Football with a Refugee
Feast! Picnic by the Lake
Prepare for two nights and a lazy Sunday afternoon – at Feast! Manchester’s annual outdoor extravaganza for everyone, mixing food and entertainment. You bring the picnic; we provide the entertainment – even at your table! FREE entertainment includes music, street theatre, dance, puppets, circus, magic, storytelling, and things to watch and do, with over fifty visiting companies
from the UK and abroad.
Platt Fields Park Lakeside, Manchester, 05/06/09 – 19:00-23:00; 06/06/09 – 14:00-23:00; 07/06/09 – 13:00-18:00
Ready Steady Community Cook
Share food and culture from around the world and sample traditional dishes prepared by some of the communities living in Salford. If you are a budding chef, want to know more about other cultures, or just love food then this event is for you. There will also be live music performances, children's activities and arts and crafts workshops.
Salford, 16/06/09, 17:00-20:00
For more information www.salford.gov.uk/refugeeweek2009
Family day out at Loch Lomond
Relax at Loch Lomond and soak up the beautiful views and enjoy sampling a mix of Cameroonian food and entertainment. Organised by Cameroonian Association and Sympathisers in Scotland (CAMASS).
Balloch, 20/06/09, 09:00 – 17:00
For more information info@camass-info.org
Ordsall Multi-Cultural Munch
Community showcase involving presentations of work from over 10 local community groups from Ordsall and Langworthy. The talking with your mouthful group will offer guests a taste of both local foods and from recipes around the world. Local chef, Ray Jones and artist Fiona Smith have also helped the cookery group create a special food atlas, reflecting people's memories of their favourite foods from their childhood and links to their place of birth.
Salford, 17/06/09, 15:00 – 19:00
For more information www.salford.gov.uk/refugeeweek2009
Visible Thinking
Visible Thinking is a Bristol-based company researching new ways of engaging children in learning. Core members are theatre practitioner Sandra Barefoot, writer & educator Mike Akers and composer & musician Sarah Moody - and together they've evolved non-verbal storytelling techniques that considerably improve children's learning, communication, well-being & musicality. In today's workshops Visible Thinking works with schools groups on issues relating to refugees.
Bristol, 16/06/09, 3 x 50-minute workshops (times TBA).
For more information www.pieriancentre.com
Celebrate Your Family’s Culture in Rhythm and Stories
Dual-language sessions for all Tiny Tots and Toddler Times and Baby Bounce and Rhymes. An opportunity for families to share their rhymes and stories. To be held throughout June at the Gorton, Levenshulme and Hulme Libraries, Please contact individual libraries to enquire about dates and times of the sessions.
Manchester, 01/06/09 – 30/06/09
For more information contact the Gorton library, 0161 224 2775
The World Came to My Library Today
Discover where in the world many of your favourite things came from - a story and activity session for ages 6-12 years.
Sheffield, 20/06/09, 14:30-15:30
Fore more information lesley.docherty@sheffield.gov.uk, 0114 273 4734
Out of the Frame
Visit the V&A Museum for a chance to see short films made by refugees from 11:00 am.
V&A Museum, London, 14/06/09, 11:00-
For more information www.vam.ac.uk, 02079422211
Hungary 1956
The evening features 2 films and a discussion on the dramatic events that took place in Budapest 50 plus years ago which created a wave of refugees fleeing the Soviet tanks. The first is Mark Kidel’s award-winning documentary Hungary 1956: Our Revolution – mixing the memories of survivors with remarkable archive footage of the uprising and repression. This is followed by Robert Vas’ 1959 Free Cinema film Refuge England – a short, but ground-breaking account of a Hungarian refugee’s bewildered arrival in Britain.
Bristol, 13/06/09, 19:30, 00:00
For more information www.pieriancentre.com
Exodus Shorts Film Festival
This event showcases the talent of refugee filmmakers as well as showing short films giving a fresh perspective on the lives of migrant communities.
Manchester, 15/06/09 – 21/06/09, 12:00-17:00
For more information contact Community Arts NW (0161 2342975)
Cinema showing - Persepolis
A chance to see Persepolis at the City Screen with an introduction from the chair of Refugee Action York and an opportunity to meet up with those involved in RAY after the showing.
York, 16/06/09, 18:15-00:00
For more information www.refugeeactionyork.org
I Am David
Screening of I Am David, which follows a twelve year-old boy as he boldly escapes from an East European prison camp and makes an incredible personal journey to freedom. The film will be followed by discussion and refreshments.
Bedford, 17/06/09, 10:35
For more information contact the Bedford Council of Faiths 01234 350829
Who Wants to be a Zimbabwean Billionaire Pub Quiz
Take part in a fun quiz based upon the British Citizenship Test held for Refugee Week by the Nottingham Zimbabwean Community Network & NO Borders Nottingham.
Nottingham, 16/06/09, 19:00 – 22:00
For more information www.nzcn.wordpress.com
Churches Together in Central Oxford will hold a worship service addressing the plight and needs of Refugees.
The featured preacher will be Puck De Raadt, an advocate for asylum seekers and refugees. The service includes communion, which will be celebrated ecumenically, and will be followed by refreshments. The offering will be donated to Medical Justice, which does independent medical work documenting trauma victims and medical neglect/ incompetence from private medical sub contractors in detention centres. Organised by Faith in Action.
21 June, 10:45 - 12:00 at St Columba’s United Reformed Church, Alfred St, Oxford
For more info http://www.asylum-welcome.org/
Refugee Week Book Display
If you are in the area, come and borrow a book and find out more about Refugees’ experiences. Pendleton Gateway library will be having a display of books written by or about refugees up all week, so please come along and have a look and find out more about the experiences people have, why people come to the UK and the lives people lead.
Salford, 15/06/09 – 21/06/09, 13:00 – 16:00
For more information www.salford.gov.uk/refugeeweek2009
A Life in Exile
A discussion event on themes of homecoming, identity & home, inspired by the diaries of Charlotte Wolff. This event will be based around the Matthew Buckingham piece, Everything I Need, recently purchased by Glasgow Museums, which features diary excerpts by Charlotte Wolff on her return to Germany after many years in exile. Charlotte Wolff wrote seminal works about human sexuality and psychology, and experienced persecution throughout her life as a Jewish lesbian woman living in exile. This event accompanies the GoMA exhibition sh[OUT]: Contemporary Art and Human Rights.
Glasgow, 18/06/09, 18:00 – 19:30
For more information www.glasgowmuseums.com
Refugee Encounters
Learn about the difference between an asylum seeker and a refugee, hear amazing stories about people who have fled from situations of torture and persecution and are rebuilding their lives in the UK, and find out about the work of the British Red Cross
in supporting people in crisis. With speakers from British Red Cross Refugee Services to give a Refugee Awareness presentation this event, brought to you by the Norwich Group of Amnesty International, is a great chance to really get to grips with the issues facing refugees today.
Norwich, 17/06/09, 20:00-22:00
For more information rop@redcross.org.uk, 01603 620 926
The Truth about Asylum
An informal event hosted by the Refugee Council with volunteers from the local community. Members of the Refugee Council will talk about the facts, and the fibs surrounding asylum in the UK, and answer your questions. There will also be an opportunity to share stories with people who have recently have made their home here.
Wakefield, 18/06/09, 16:51 – 21:00
Fore More information ali.bullivent@wakefield-cathedral.org.uk
War, Refugees and Testimony
A special seminar and evening reception. The seminar will examine the arrival of refugees as a result of war, their contribution to Britain and the historical importance of the stories and testimony they leave behind. It will be followed by the official launch of Refugee Voices, the audio-visual testimony project completed by the Association of Jewish Refugees featuring interviews with 150 Holocaust survivors and refugees. There will be an opportunity to see a demonstration of the collection, and hear from one of the contributing survivors.
London, 18/06/09, 14:30 – 21:00
For more information www.wienerlibrary.co.uk
Celebrating Sanctuary Art Exhibition
Four floors of powerful art by and about asylum seekers. The exhibition brings together an international palette of artists, contributing work from painting, drawing & photography to sound installations, projections and interactive & digital media. The exhibition is a demonstration that the human spirit is capable of not just enduring but sometimes of transcending hardship. Art speaks the words we cannot say. Open every day except Sunday 14th.
Additional activities throughout the week include: Scribble Wall - a place for your thoughts about home, marginalisation & City of Sanctuary. As the week unfolds a dialogue develops; Map of Origins - a World map invites you to put a dot on your place of origin or your family roots; Flower Mandala at Temple Meads - throughout the week travellers are invited to contribute to the steadily growing flower mandala at Temple Meads station.
Bristol, 13/06/09 – 20/06/09, 11:00 – 00:00
For more information www.pieriancentre.com
The Dover Multi Cultural Festival
An event bringing together the local community in celebrating the diversity of culture present in the Dover and East Kent area. The Dover Multi Cultural Festival was established over the last decade as an event bringing the community of Dover and surrounding areas in East Kent together in celebrating diversity and community cohesion. This celebration is achieved with performances from various ethnic groups and the local indigenous population.
Includes performances from Whitstable Samba Band Musika from Sandwich; Nigel Hobbins and Backroom Boys; Daniel Gonçalves Portuguese Double Act Cycling Juggling Miming; Spyplane Sound Local Acoustic Duo; Nonnington Singers; Leila Face Painter and street dance and hip hop performances from KRAN and the South East Kent YMCA's youth groups. Available at the event will be food from various cultures and information stalls from local community groups.
Dover, 20/06/09, 10:16
For more information contact s.l.hutchinson@talk21.com
Kingslink International Carnival
Kingslink Carnival is and international festival celebrating the diverse community in West of Glasgow. The fun kicks of with a parade from Kingsway flats in Scotstoun, which will wind its way through the local area and reach Knightswood Park, where there will be music, dance, singing, and a food village where you can sample flavours from around the world.The Carnival brings people from different cultures together and gives everyone a chance to enjoy the vibrant mix of colour, customs and culture.
Glasgow, 27/06/09, 15:01
For more information kingswaycourt@btclick.com
Simple Actions – Have a Cup of Tea with a Refugee
Visit the BRR Welcome Centre in Newton Hall, Newton Street, Easton for a free cup of tea and meet lots of friendly people from all over the world in probably the most ethnically diverse drop-in centre in Bristol! A chance to chat, look at artwork and other projects, and find out what life is like for people seeking asylum in Bristol.
Bristol, 18/06/09, 11:00 – 15:00
For more information dropin@hotmail.co.uk
Living Library – True Stories of Escape
Come and meet local refugees talking about their experiences at Sheffield Central Library. Talking books that actually talk back!
Sheffield, 17/06/09, 13:00-16:00
For more information dan.marshall@sheffield.gov.uk, 0114 293 0006
Celebrating Sanctuary World Music Night
The third in a series of three World Music Nights bringing together refugee and host community musicians to play traditional sounds and create new music. Presenting: Zvinoera African Blues Band: Exciting new Zimbabwean band mixing ancestral music, stirring vocals and musical poetry and Son de la Vie: Irresistible Congolese dance music. Also featuring DJ Zuppa Inglese of Bongo Go Sound System.
Birmingham, 26/06/09, 20-:30 – 12:00
Fore more information www.celebrating-sanctuary.org.uk
World Music Day at Forest Farm Peace Garden
A Festival of World Music to celebrate the contribution of Refugees and Asylum Seekers to our community and peace garden. Featuring World Music lessons and performances in a garden setting to celebrate with the Refugees and Asylum Seekers who grow their own organic food at Forest Farm Peace Garden.
Enjoy the sounds of professional Musicians from Africa, Turkey, Eastern Europe, Brazil and elsewhere, which will fill the garden with music from 2 stages. Free Entrance and Hot Food made from the Garden's organic produce
Hainult, 21/06/09, 11:00 – 17:00
For more information contactsteve@forestfarmpeacegarden.org
Refugee Week Concert
A concert at Perth Concert Hall featuring local musicians of all nationalities playing music of all genres. The concert is to celebrate the great contribution that other nations and cultures have made to Scotland. Featuring young bands from Perth and Kinross and other areas of Scotland all playing different styles of music. An opportunity to see some exciting new talent and hear some great music.
Perth, 16/06/09, 19:30 – 22:00
Fore more information www.horsecross.co.uk
Sound World
Once again Square Chapel’s artreach project invites you to join us in celebration of Refugee Week. Many of those who seek safety here come from war-torn countries, and countries with poor human rights records. Tonight’s celebration focuses on the positive and features lively, exciting music from Salam UK who integrate music from different cultures. Plus, sambalifax – Halifax’s very own community samba band. It’ll be a fun, family-friendly evening as well as an opportunity to learn more about refugees in our community.
Halifax, 17/06/09, 19:00-21:00
For more information, maria@squarechapel.co.uk, 01422 353073
Amnesty International Refugee Day Rally
Join a campaign celebrating and defending the concept of asylum and raising awareness of the campaign to end destitution of refused asylum seekers. Culminating in a Rally at Trafalgar Square from noon, a March will follow a route from Cleopatra's Needle, Embankment. Speakers at the Rally at Trafalgar Square from 2pm include Kate Allen of Amnesty International, Jermy Corbyn MP, Bonzo from Zimbabwe and Makola Mayimbika Poetic Justice.
London, 20/11/09, 11:00 – 16:00
For more information contact Amnesty International London 07984729321
Refugee Action York Street Stall
Visit a street stall in York city centre raising awareness of the issues faced by asylum seekers and refugees in York and the country as a whole as well as the contributions made by asyum seekers and refugees to life in Britain. In addition we will have information on the work of Refugee Action York available.
York, 13/06/09, 11:00 – 1500
Fore more information www.refugeeactionyork.org
Refugee Week Sleep Out
Amnesty International (St Marks Group, Edinburgh) are organising a sleep-out in the secure precincts of St John's Episcopal Church, West End Princes Street, to highlight the growing number of asylum seekers who are being made homeless and destitute on the streets of towns and cities across the UK. Join us prepared with warm layers and supplies for an experience very different from the usual night out...
*Awareness raising with MP at 9pm
*Access to kitchen and toilet facilities in Church Building
*Stewarding throughout the night
*Refreshments available
*Participants responsible for own bedding/waterproofing
Edinburgh, 19/06/09, 20:30-
For more information konichiwa_29@hotmail.com, 07706527239
Nations United
Nations United brings together a wide range of cultures and religions from the Bedford area for a fun 5-a-side football tournament football under the umbrella of Refugee Week. Nations United is a family event with coaching and games for children and Young People, information from various partners E.G Kick Racism out of Football and refreshments provided.
Bedford, 14/06/09, 11:36
For more information contact Bob Bridle bobb@bpha.org.uk, 01234 791145
Refugee Week Football Session
Come along to a special football training session for Refugee Week with the manager of FC United. There will be games, refreshments and friendly faces a plenty.
Salford, 16/06/09, 13:00 – 15:00
For more information www.salford.gov.uk/refugeeweek2009
Family Fun Day and Football Tournament
Join the Reading Refugee Support Group at their Knock out Football Tournament and Family Fun Day. Enjoy food and refreshments and a supervised soft play area for under fives. There will be prizes for the winners!
Reading, 14/06/09, 14:00-18:00.
For more information, refugeeweek@rrsg.org.uk, 0118950 5356
Sheffield All Nations Football Tournament
Enter a football tournament hosted by Football Unites, Racism Divides (FURD) in partnership with theSheffield and Hallamshire County FA. To enter a team please contact Desbon Bushiri: 0114 255 3156.
Sheffield, 20/06/09, 12:00-17:00
Fore more information desbon@furd.org, 0114 255 3156
