Refugee Week is the world’s largest arts & culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. This year’s theme is “Community as a Superpower!”, celebrating the strength, kindness and resilience found in coming together.
To mark the week we have teamed up with our many partners to offer a variety of local activities and events where you can show your appreciation, solidarity and support:
12th June: Documentary
Free screening of Hostile at Reading University, 17:30, Edith Morley Building, Van Emden lecture theatre, followed by a Q+A panel discussion with Nick Harborne (CEO Refugee Support Group) The Mayor of Reading Dr. Alice Mpofu-Coles, The University of Reading and other participants.
Hostile, is an award-winning feature-length documentary written, produced and directed by BAFTA and three-time BIFA-longlisted filmmaker Sonita Gale. It focuses on the UK’s complicated relationship with its migrant communities.
Click here for your free tickets:
🎬Watch the trailer
14th June: Football
Reading Community Cup – a vibrant football tournament celebrating Refugee Week. This year’s tournament will take place on Saturday 14 June, 10.00-16.00, University of Reading SportsPark soccer cages, Whiteknights Campus.
The Reading Community Cup brings together players, supporters, and communities to celebrate diversity, build lasting relationships, and offer a warm welcome to refugees and asylum seekers. With 12 teams from across Reading already signed up, the tournament showcases not only footballing talent but also the power of sport to connect people beyond borders.
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, 14th June
Time: 10:00-16:00
Location: SportsPark soccer cages, Whiteknights Campus
Admission: Free and open to all
19th June: Film
Free Screening of Fremont at Reading Biscuit Factory, 19.00, doors open from 18:30.
Click here for your free tickets:
🎬 Watch the trailer
✨Fremont tells the story of Donya, a young Afghan who moved to California after working as a translator for the American army. She now spends her days in a fortune cookie factory and her nights wrestling with insomnia and the guilt of her past. In a quiet act of reaching out, she sends an unconventional message to the world hidden in a cookie. Tinged with Jarmuschian deadpan humour, this tender immigrant tale stars real-life refugee Anaita Wali Zada, alongside Gregg Turkington and Jeremy Allen White (The Bear) as a heartthrob mechanic.
20th June: Be Seen in Green
Simply put.. Dress in Green (our logo colours) to show your solidarity with refugees in Berkshire. Raise awareness and funds for RSG on Friday 20th June—International Refugee Day. Local Schools are getting involved (and there’s a great education pack to accompany this) but any person or organisation can join in too!
🟢 Wear green – the colour of our charity and a symbol of hope
🟢 Decorate your home/workplace/classroom
🟢 Fundraise to support local refugees through Refugee Support Group (RSG)
For more click here:
25th June: Theatre
Are We There Yet? takes a light-hearted approach to some tough issues. Whilst the elites syphon up the wealth and appear to play with our rights like a game, hoarding more than they could spend in a million lifetimes, the rest of us are left wondering: will it ever change?
Told through the lens of our diverse community, drawing on their experiences via comedy, multilingual storytelling, and absurd spectacle, the play delivers a message of hope, unity and compassion. When we experience truth, we find it is not just powerful, it is beautiful.
There will be a Q&A with the cast hosted by BBC Radio 3’s Fiona Talkington after the show.
Coming soon….
Solacer, a sixth-former-led social enterprise with a mission to reshape public perceptions of refugees through the launch of their ethical clothing brand. Their goal is simple yet profound: to provide what every human being deserves—warmth, hope, and comfort.
“We are also honoured to partner with the Refugee Support Group, to whom we will be donating 50% of our profits in the form of gift cards—ensuring direct, dignified support for those in need.”
To register your interest in purchasing one of these limited edition, 100% cotton T-shirts for £14.99 email fundraising@rrsg.org.uk. Link to purchase coming soon…
