Refugee Week – Join Sutton College as part of ‘Sutton Walks To Calais’

Refugee Week (14th-20th June)

Monday 14th June marks the start of Refugee Week, an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of refugees to the UK.

‘Refugee Week’ first started in 1998, with the aim of challenging negativity and hostility towards refugees and asylum seekers, highlighting the benefits they bring to host communities and encouraging successful integration. A varied programme of arts, cultural and educational events take place each year in the lead up to World Refugee Day on 20th June.

The theme for this year’s Refugee Week is about supporting others on their journey (be it literal or figurative) under the banner ‘We Cannot Walk Alone’.

Sutton College will be one of several organisations across the borough participating in the ‘Sutton Walks To Calais’ fundraising event to raise money for the Refugee Council, a charity established in 1951 and now the leading charity working with refugee and asylum seekers in the UK. The Refugee Council works directly with thousands of refugees each year, helping them from the time they arrive in the UK by providing advice, practical support and mental health counselling to work through the trauma of their experience.

‘Sutton Walks To Calais’ invites people to record every mile they walk, run, swim or cycle from now until the end of June, with the aim of collectively reaching 108 miles (the distance between the Civic Centre and Calais).

Miles can be recorded on the link below, selecting ‘Sutton College’ as your team-

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSemYZCIBCIOIzNZlmWJ5MQ_uMWqZJYfm06_f1E7e_j_Cpxb8Q/viewform

If you would like to make a donation to the Refugee Council and/or get someone to sponsor you for your efforts, the Crowdfunder link is below-

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/sutton-walks-to-calais

Students are also able to record their miles as part of ‘Team Sutton College’ on the link above. Students and staff are all encouraged to get involved and note the work of the Refugee Council to promote equality of opportunity, tolerance and respect.

Details of an upcoming online panel discussion can be found below.