16-22 June 2025
Community as a Superpower
Refugee Week is a nationwide initiative that celebrates the contributions of refugees to the UK and encourages better understanding between communities. To find out more about Refugee Week click here.
Communities can bring people together, bridging divides and offering support. They can provide spaces of resilience and places for healing. This Refugee Week everyone is invited to build new connections in and beyond our neighbourhoods. Lets share the feelings of welcome and belonging. Listening, learning and laughing together.
Find out more about the lives of refugees at these workshops at The Higgins Bedford.
On Friday the 20 June people with lived experience of seeking refuge are invited to participate in a poetry workshop with Malka Al-Haddad. Malka is an Iraqi academic Women's Rights activist and poet. Her debut poetry collection, Birds Without Sky: Poems from Exile, (Harriman House Ltd, 2018) was longlisted for the Leicester Book of the Year award in 2018. Her second collection the truth at the end of the night was donated to The City of Sanctuary UK. Malka says ‘My books are for those who believe in changing the world - I use my poetry to inspire others who are facing these challenges’
On Saturday 21 June join artist Bern O’ Donoghue in a free creative workshop exploring themes of exile and refuge. Bern is a socially engaged artist, educator and facilitator who hopes creative acts can improve our world.
There will be posters and artworks on display at The Higgins Bedford made by local people with lived experience of seeking refuge. The posters will be on the theme of Refugee Week 2025 which is ‘Community is a SuperPower’.
https://refugeeweek.org.uk/
Wednesday 18 June
11am – 3pm, Refugee Week Market Stall – at Bedford Market
Meet staff and volunteers from BRASS (Bedford Refugee & Asylum Seeker Support), find out about all of the events happening for Refugee Week 2025.
Friday 20 June
11am – 1pm, Booking essential, places limited
Join award winning poet Malka Al-Haddad for this poetry workshop exploring themes of refuge and exile. The workshop is for people with lived experience of seeking refuge. To book a place please email thehiggins@bedford.gov.uk
Saturday 21 June
11am – 3pm, Free Drop-in
Join artist Bern O’ Donoghue in this creative workshop and artwork based on the Refugee Week 2025 theme ‘Community as a SuperPower’.
Friday 20 June – Sunday 22 June at The Higgins Bedford
Enjoy the displays of artwork by local people on the theme of ‘Community as a SuperPower’. Find out more about Refugee Week 2025 and the ‘Simple Acts’ that you can do to support Refugee Week 2025.
