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Plymouth celebrates Refugee Week

PLYMOUTH will host a range of exciting events during National Refugee Week (16th-22nd June) kicking off with a launch at the council on Monday June 16th.

Art work produced by refugees, displays and stalls by different agencies working with asylum seekers and presentations from students at Stoke Dameral Community College will launch the week's events, which celebrate the contribution refugees have made to the city. Attendance at the council is by invitation only.

African storytelling, led by Plymouth's Cristelle Mutombo, will take place on Friday 20th June at Central Library from 2pm, and the public are welcome to come along and enjoy the free event. START (Students and Refugees Together) will host a refugee week event also on Friday at their Cultural Kitchen, where refugees can go to cook, eat and socialise. The Cultural Kitchen is at Sherwell Church Hall from 3.30pm. Agencies working with refugees will be on hand with stalls and information.

Lunch will also be available for refugees and asylum seekers at an event at Stoke Dameral Parish Centre, Paradise Road, behind Stoke Dameral Church.

On Saturday 21st June volunteers from Refugee Action will man a stall outside Waterstones on 65-69 New George Street in the city centre where there will be plenty of information available and shoppers can get their questions answered.

During Refugee Week, environmental health and public health specialists will also receive training on refugee awareness and will have the chance to debate the issues.

Jane Robinson, manager of Refugee Action in Plymouth, said: "During Refugee Week we celebrate the contributions refugees make to our city and we remember why Britain should be proud of its history of granting sanctuary to people in need. Lots of organisations are putting on fun and informative events and we would encourage everyone to come down and find out more about the work of our organisations and the plight of refugees in the UK."

To find out more about the council launch event during Refugee Week contact Arnett Donkin, Senior Education Adviser - Equalities and Inclusion, on 01752 307 489.

Ends

For more information on what is happening during Refugee Week in Plymouth go to: Refugee Week. For more information contact Julia Ravenscroft, press officer at Refugee Action, on 0161 233 1956.

Notes:

• Refugee Action is an independent, national charity working to enable refugees to build new lives in the UK. We provide practical advice and assistance for newly arrived asylum seekers and support their settlement through community development work. As one of the country’s leading agencies in the field, Refugee Action has 25 years’ experience in pioneering innovative work in partnership with refugees and advised more than 40,000 asylum seekers and refugees last year. Actors for Refugees is supported through Refugee Action's Refugee Awareness Project, which aims to increase public understanding of asylum through workshops, talks and other local events. For more information visit www.refugee-action.org.uk.