Plymouth Refugee Week

Celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary
Refugee Week 2025 - theme: Community as a Superpower
Art by 8bitfaz
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Refugee Week takes place from 16–22 June and is a UK-wide festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. Founded in 1998 and held every year around World Refugee Day on 20 June, Refugee Week is also a growing global movement.
Through a programme of arts, cultural, sports and educational events alongside media and creative campaigns, Refugee Week enables people from different backgrounds to connect beyond labels, as well as encouraging understanding of why people are displaced, and the challenges they face when seeking safety.
Refugee Week is a platform for people who have sought safety in the UK to share their experiences, perspectives and creative work on their own terms.
Simple Acts are everyday actions we can all do to stand with refugees and make new connections in our communities. Whether you build your own event or activity around a Simple Act or simply take part during Refugee Week, you’ll be part of a movement of people everywhere taking small steps to create a big change.
Credit: text adapted from the Refugee Week website.

#RefugeeWeek #SimpleActs

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Theme of Refugee Week 2025: Community as a Superpower

Community is the incredible everyday. Ordinary and extraordinary. Simple acts of shared generosity. Kindness multiplied to become an unstoppable force!
Communities can bring people together. Bridging divides and offering support. Spaces of resilience and places for healing.
This Refugee Week everyone is invited to spend time with friends and build new connections in and beyond our neighbourhoods. From communal meals and open air film screenings, to football matches and music making, let’s share the feelings of welcome and belonging. Listening, learning, laughing together.
It’s amazing what we can do when we move together towards a shared goal. So let’s redefine and rediscover our collective power to shape hopeful futures and begin by practising, celebrating and rehearsing it every day.
Community as a Superpower

Join us for Refugee Week and together let’s unleash the superpower of community

Text – Refugee Week website • Image – © Moomin CharactersTM

Programme – how we are celebrating in Plymouth

WHEN EVENT DESCRIPTION WHERE CONTACT
Saturday 14 June, 10:00–17:00 Plymouth Hope Festival 2025 The fantastic annual festival and launch of Plymouth Refugee Week. Football tournament and family fun day. Football, live music, cooking demonstrations, performers, children’s activities, art & crafts and food from around the world. Devonport Park, Devonport Road, Plymouth PL1 4BT Plymouth Hope Team: info@plymouthhope.org.uk / http://www.plymouthhope.com / Plymouth Hope on Facebook and X
Monday 16 June Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support DCRS Open Day with exhibitions of all their services and partners. Roland Levinsky Building, University of Plymouth, PL4 8AA Alex Vessis: alex.vessis@dcrs-plymouth.org
Tuesday 17 June, 10:00–16:00 Give Back Mental Health Boost Day In collaboration with Art, Crafts and Giggles, The King’s Trust, ODILS and the University of Plymouth, Give Back will be hosting a mental health boost day promoting mental health through art and crafting. Room 206, Rolle Building, University of Plymouth Give Back Team: givebackprojectuk@gmail.com
Tuesday 17 June, 18:00 Give Back Film Night Shorts Evening – short films made by/about refugees and asylum seekers followed by a panel discussion. Jill Craigie Cinema, University of Plymouth Give Back Team: givebackprojectuk@gmail.com
Wednesday 18 June, 11:00–15:00 Red Cross Refugee Week Showcase Led by community volunteers, an exhibition about the British Red Cross with stalls and crafts as well as a healthy halal meal being prepared and served. You can get involved in the cooking, serving and eating. Red Cross Building, Catherine Street, Plymouth PL1 2AD Abimbola Akinwale: AAkinwale@redcross.org.uk
Thursday 19 June, 10:00–14:00 Community Builders Event An event involving light refreshments, music and art and craft. Genesis Building, 235 Union Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth PL1 3HN Isatta Kallon: isatta.kallon@fgct.co.uk
Thursday 19 June, 18:00 Give Back Film Night Long Feature Screening – long feature film screening followed by a panel discussion. Jill Craigie Cinema, University of Plymouth Give Back Team: givebackprojectuk@gmail.com
Friday 20 June, 09:30–14:30 START Walk START will be leading a walk to Bovisand. Participants to meet at DCRS, take the ferry, walk to Bovisand, enjoy lunch, walk to Radford Dip before getting the bus back to Plymouth. Meet outside DCRS, 7 Whimple Street, Plymouth PL1 2DH at 09:30 info@startsw.co.uk / 07841985252
Friday 20 June, 17:00–20:30 Cultural Kitchen Open House Led by community volunteers, a healthy halal meal is prepared and served. You can get involved in the cooking, serving and eating. Sherwell United Church, North Hill, Plymouth PL4 8ER info@startsw.co.uk / 07841985252
 

Plymouth Refugee Week in pictures

Refugee Week - Plymouth Hope Festival
Plymouth Hope Festival
Refugee Week - Plymouth Hope Festival
Plymouth Hope Festival
Refugee Week - Plymouth Hope Festival
Plymouth Hope Festival
Refugee Week - Plymouth Hope Festival
Plymouth Hope Festival
Breathing fire
Celebrating Refugee Week
Calstock group
Calstock Chill Out Afternoon
Refugee Week - juggling
Juggling
Refugee Week - dance
Dance
Refugee Week
Celebrating Refugee Week
Red Cross stand at the University Open Day
Red Cross stand at the University Open Day
Plymouth Racial Equality Council stand at the University Open Day
Plymouth Racial Equality Council at the University Open Day
Refugee Week
Dance
Refugee Week - one people
One people
Celebrating Refugee Week
Celebrating Refugee Week
Refugee Week - cultural kitchen
Sharing coffee at Refugee Week
Refugee Week
The Inspirational Women's Group
Celebrating Refugee Week
Celebrating Refugee Week
Refugee Week - Dance
Dance
 

Partner organisations

Event photography and video

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