Refugee Week 2025 will run from 16th – 22nd June 2025. The theme for 2025 is yet to be announced. Watch this space for more details to come. We will share more information with you asap.

The University of Winchester have a vibrant programme of events lined up for Refugee Week 2024. See here for more details.

There are lots of events running regionally and nationally. See the Refugee Week events calendar here for more details.

The theme for Refugee Week 2024 was “Our Home”. From the places we gather to share meals to our collective home, planet earth: everyone was invited to celebrate what Our Home means to them.

What can you do now?

Simple Acts are everyday actions we can all do to stand with refugees and make new connections in our communities. You don’t need to wait for Refugee Week 2025 to show your support for people seeking sanctuary. You can do a Simple Act every day. Here are a few ideas of simple things you can do to make a real difference!

• Watch a film at home (alone or with friends & family)
• Organise a film screening (either at a local venue or at work!)
• Attend a film event, see What’s On near you
• Read a book
• Theme your next book club read and/ or organise a book exchange
• Work at a bookshop or a library? Curate a book display!
• For those short on time: Share the orange heart emoji on your social media.
• Share Refugee Week resources (e.g. Our Home artwork, thunderclap, simple acts etc.)
• What message would you like to send to welcome people seeking sanctuary?  Share your message online using #RefugeeWeek #SimpleActs #OurHome, together let’s fill social media with messages of care and solidarity.
• Take part in City of Sanctuary’s Speak Up for Sanctuary
• Have a chat! Say hello to someone new in your neighbourhood, workplace, school or community. Ask how they’re doing. Lament or celebrate the weather. It might just make their day!
• Join a befriending service
• Volunteer in your local community
• Share or swap a favourite recipe
• Learn a new dish! You can take it one step further and learn about the migratory journeys of different ingredients and recipes throughout time
• Organise a friendly match
• Partner with local sports and/ or refugee group
• Organise a special event (e.g. competition, film screening events, dance shows etc).
• Join Winchester City of Sanctuary as a supporter, partner or volunteer!