We had an astonishingly successful Refugee Week Football tournament in Russell Park this Sunday. Even though there was an England world cup match that day. 12 teams attended and we counted over 250 people at the event in total. The winners of the tournament the Brazilian boys. With local Councillor Luigi Reale in the middle who paid for the marking out of the two pitches. The runners up from Bedford United receiving a trophy from Dave Hodgson Mayor of Bedford. Special thanks to Michelle Thomas (on the mayor’s right with the winner’s trophy) who organised the football tournament. Special thanks also to Robert Lindsey on the left who was a referee, along with his father and friend. Next to co
Tim Leese from the Kings Arms Project and Tina Hughes from BRASS meeting and greeting shoppers in the Harpur Square on Monday publicising Refugee Week. Brian Cunningham, BRASS Co-ordinator, on the stall with Tina Hughes, Student Social Worker, and Sumana Das Carlton-Smith, BRASS Volunteer. It was a beautiful day so they were enjoying the sunshine as they met all the people who wanted to know more about our work with Refugees and Asylum Seekers in and around Bedford. Over 250 myth busting leaflets were handed out during the day. For more information about our friends at the Kings Arms Project click here.
It was lovely to see so many old friends and meet new ones at the The Higgin Workshop at the Harpur Suite on Sunday. A great way to celebrate Refugee Week. It was a superb day of drama, singing, music, poetry, art and ethnic food. The Language Workshop taught us new words and we all enjoyed the Choirs. There were over 200 people enjoying this very successful Refugee Week event. Thank you all at the Higgins for such a memorable day. For more information about events at the Higgins click here.
“In the same period as it spent €2bn euros on border security, the EU spent only an estimated €700m on reception conditions for refugees.” This is 'long read' about the refugee crisis on the Guardian Newspaper website which challenges some of the myths about the refugee crisis and the complacency from those who seem to suggest we are doing all we can or even the crisis is over. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/jun/05/five-myths-about-the-refugee-crisis
