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Action Matters - A Refugee Week special

15-22 June 2008

Here at Refugee Action, we’re very excited about Refugee Week, beginning very soon.

The week of fun, food, football and friendliness gives us all a chance to celebrate the contribution that refugees have made to the UK.

Here's how you can join in.

FACT OF THE MONTH - to help you spread the word.

A feast of events - come to celebrate.

Refugee Week from your desk - everyone can be involved.

It’s a LUSH life - a fragrant addition to Refugee Week.

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FACT OF THE MONTH

Most asylum seekers are keen to work.

But did you know that they’re not allowed to do so while their asylum claim is being decided?

Once people gain refugee status, they have many skills to contribute to the life of the UK - there are around 1500 refugee teachers here, and over 2000 refugee health professionals. 

 

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A feast of events

Come and say hello to Refugee Action at events in Bristol, Derby, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Nottingham, Plymouth, Portsmouth or Salford.

You could find yourself racing a remote-controlled Mini, cheering on an international football team, dancing to music from all over the world, or enjoying a performance of a brand new play celebrating friendships between asylum seekers and UK citizens.

You’ll need to buy tickets in advance for certain events, including the performance of Asylum Dialogues in Bristol on 14 June, Liverpool on 17 June, Derby on 20 June and London on 22 June – so don’t delay. Click through for more details of these unique performances.

The Refugee Week website has even more events.  Wherever you are, come along and enjoy!

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Refugee Week from the comfort of your desk!

You can join in the celebration even if you’re chained to your desk.

And we want your creative juices to get flowing.

This Refugee Week, we’re asking you to think of ways in which you might welcome a refugee.  Would you give someone a big hug?  Roll out a red carpet?  Plant a whole park with flowers?

Draw your idea here. And then send it to us.

We’re planning to make a gallery of the ideas to display later in the year to an audience of politicians – so that they’ll see that there are a lot of welcoming people in the UK and that they need to listen to us when they make policies.

Think big, think small, think practical, think ridiculous!  And then draw your idea online and email us your artwork.

For those who prefer drawing with real-life paper and pens, do drop us a line at campaigns@refugee-action.org.uk and we’ll send you our real-life Refugee Week postcard to decorate.  Or a whole batch of them so you can collect pictures from others too.

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It’s a LUSH life

Lush – those bright yellow shops which perfume entire streets with gorgeous scents – are celebrating Refugee Week with us too.

Their stores in Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, Bristol, Plymouth, Southampton, Birmingham, London Regents Street, London South Molton Street and London Covent Garden are all joining in the fun.  In the stores, you’ll have a chance to:

• buy a Charity Pot (all of the price of a tub of luscious moisturiser (minus the VAT)  will be donated to good causes - Refugee Action is being supported by this 'pot' of cash!).
• decorate a fun postcard giving a creative idea of how you’d welcome a refugee to the UK.
• pick up one of our funky ‘Mobiles, Myths and Mayhem’ guides giving the facts and fibs about asylum.
• say thank you to the lovely staff who will have received special training and info from Refugee Action.

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Don't forget!

Look out for Refugee Week events close to you.

And bring your friends along too.

Happy Refugee Week!

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