A local asylum seeker group has invited people to a series of events to mark Refugee Week 2022.

On Saturday 18 June, from 1pm to 5.30pm, Preston City of Sanctuary has arranged a walk and picnic, with groups meeting at points across Preston and South Ribble, walking towards Avenham Park to gather for fun activities and food.

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The group has asked attendees to bring drinks and food to share, with food and ice cream provided.

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The activity builds on a successful event organised last summer that saw sanctuary seekers, families and supporters of PCoS invited to participate.

Walkers are encouraged to gather in small groups at different points – north, south, east and west across the city and walk together to meet in Avenham Park.

Activities for young and old include parachute and ball games, frisbee, and using the playground.

Booking for this event is not required, with attendance by invitation.

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On Monday, 20 June, from 1pm to 3pm, the group has arranged a ‘Sanctuary Cookalongs Community Meal and Networking’ event at St Cuthbert’s Church, Lytham Rd, Fulwood.

The group said places are limited, and booking is essential. 

Sanctuary seekers and supporters from Sanctuary Cookalongs will be showcasing their dishes and expertise to members of wider communities and the PCoS network.

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Lunch will be provided and prepared by the Sanctuary Cookalongs group.

The event will provide an opportunity to meet and socialise over food and is intended to create cultural learning and promote a sense of warmth across the various communities that participate.

Food is free for all Sanctuary Seekers, with donations welcome from others.

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On Tuesday 21 June, from 7pm to 9pm, Preston City of Sanctuary has arranged a free ‘Contextualising the Need to Heal’ event at UCLan, Mitchell and Kenyon Cinema, Foster Building, Corporation Street, with places limited and booking essential.

The group are screening the award-winning film ‘Limbo’, which aims to demonstrate the psychological implications of the refugee journey juxtaposed with the need to heal and recover from an extremely difficult experience exacerbated by the hostile environment, telling the story of lives in transit.

Limbo is a 2020 British comedy-drama film directed by Ben Sharrock.

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The film follows four asylum seekers staying on a remote island in Scotland and taking cultural awareness classes while awaiting the processing of their refugee claims.

The film will be followed by a short talk on the situation in Europe and a discussion.

On Wednesday 22 June, from 7pm to 8pm, the group has arranged a free ‘Relaxation and Yoga Techniques Online Demonstration’ event on Zoom.

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The event is a gentle online yoga class held to celebrate Refugee Week, providing sanctuary seekers and supporters with an opportunity to relax and tune into their bodies.

On Thursday 23 June, from 12noon to 4pm, the group has arranged a ‘Well-being Day’ at Plungington Community Centre, Brook Street, Preston, with invitations extended to local groups and no bookings required.

The event is designed to showcase therapeutic interventions that have the potential to heal and allow people to imagine a different future.

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It will involve relaxation sessions, art and creativity inputs, and dance as relaxation and exercise.

People seeking sanctuary will be invited to share and demonstrate traditional therapies linked to their cultural heritage.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

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On Friday, 24 June, from 7pm, Preston City of Sanctuary has arranged an ‘Art and Creativity as Healing’ joint event in Blackpool.

The event is an evening of music, poetry and sharing experiences performed by people seeking sanctuary in a caring space.

The group will arrange transport to Blackpool.

For more information and tickets, visit – https://preston.cityofsanctuary.org/refugee-week-2022

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Will you be attending any of the events? Let us know in the comments below.