Refugee Week 2025 Calendar

Monday 16th June

Celebrate the Power of Community at Meeting Point

2:30pm – 4:30pm, Christ Church, Armley Ridge Road, Leeds, LS12 3LE

Part of Meeting Point’s regular drop-in, this celebration will focus on the power of togetherness, connection, and shared support. We warmly invite our partners and their beneficiaries to join us for an afternoon of socialising, a hot meal, food parcels, and a welcoming environment to connect and celebrate.

For more information, contact Asiyeh Soork on 07514184638 or email [email protected]

Tuesday 17th June

Self-Advocacy Workshop

10:00am – 12:00 noon, One Community Centre, Cromwell Street, LS9 7SG

Learn how to speak up for your rights in order to access services and get the support you need. This workshop will explain what self-advocacy is and introduce you to some tools we can provide to help you communicate your needs and wishes . It is open to everyone, and the LRF advocacy team will be around to answer questions and signpost you to the best place for any help you need. We’d love to see you there.

For more information contact LRF at 01132449600 or email [email protected]

‘Who Am I? North African Narratives’ – Leeds International African Arts Festival

10:30am – 12:30pm, Civic Hall, Calverley Street, Leeds, LS1 1UR

An exploration of North African creativity in the North West of England, Leeds and beyond. Join Jessica El Mal (Manchester/Morocco) of the Arab British Centre chair a panel with Hannaa Hamdache (Leeds/Algeria) Mohammad Sultan (Manchester/ Libya) to find out more about their work, engage in cross-community dialogue and celebrate North African heritage and its impact on contemporary diaspora identities in the UK.

For more information contact Ndidi Nkwopara: [email protected] or visit
www.tickettailor.com/events/leedsinternationalafricanartsfestival2025/1595684

Leeds Volunteer Interpreting Service (LVIS) Launch Party

1:00pm – 8:00pm, New Headingley Club, 56 Saint Michael’s Road, LS63BG

Join us for a networking event from 2:00pm – 5:00pm, followed by food & entertainment from 5:00pm – 8:00pm. It’s going to be a great day of connection & celebration!

For more information contact Sara: [email protected] or call 0793 646 1442

Children’s Celebration for Refugee Week

4:30pm – 7:00pm, One Community Centre, Cromwell Street, LS97SG

LRF Homework Club will be celebrating our diverse group with country flag decorating/painting, face painting snacks and games. This event is only for children from the Homework Club, their parents/guardians, volunteers and staff.

For more information, contact Sarah Klaa at 01132449600 or [email protected]

Wednesday 18th of June

ESOL Achievement Celebration: Honouring Educators, Volunteers & Learners

12 noon-2:30pm, One Community Centre, Cromwell Street, LS97SG

This celebration is to honour our students, teachers and volunteers and their various backgrounds and countries of origin. We will share foods from everyones country of origin and celebrate the student’s hard work. This event is only for LRF ESOL students, staff and volunteers.

For more information contact Oleksanda: 01132449600 / [email protected]

Brighter Futures: Youth Safety Celebration

5:00pm – 7:30pm, One Community Centre, Cromwell Street, LS97SG

As part of our community safety initiative, young people from our youth group will mark Refugee Week with a special event celebrating their achievements. The day will feature international games, cultural activities, and a safety talk delivered by community partners and local police — recognising the positive contributions of youth in building a safer, more inclusive community.

For more information contact Khair at 01132449600 / [email protected]

‘Our Voices, Our Words’ – Exhibition Launch and Poetry Sharing

Doors 5:30pm, performances 6:00pm – 8:00pm, Thackray Museum of Medicine, LS97LN

You are invited to join us for an evening of live poetry and spoken word from writers who took part in the creative writing session, and a chance to see the exhibition of poems around the museum. This is an alcohol-free event, light refreshments will be provided.

For more information contact Ezra at [email protected]

LASSN x RETAS Present: Film Screening & Panel Discussion

6:30pm, Hyde Park Picturehouse, Leeds, LS6 1JD

LASSN and RETAS are joining forces with Hyde Park Picturehouse and Leeds International Film Festival to bring you a special screening of ‘We Dare To Dream’ which follows the refugee Olympic team on their journeys to success. This screening will also host a panel discussion from those with lived experience.
For more information please contact Lorna Gray at [email protected] or 07523911196

Thursday 19th June

Wellbeing in Community: Supporting Refugee Mental Health

10:00am – 12:30pm, One Community Centre, Cromwell Street, LS9 7SG

This event aims to create a safe and inclusive space for individuals from diverse backgrounds to discuss mental health, reduce stigma, and build tools for community-led support. Refreshments provided and travel expenses reimbursed.

For more information contact Ranya or Ali at 01132449600 or [email protected]

Film Screening & Art Workshop

From 6:00 pm, St Luke’s Church, Malvern Rd, Holbeck, Leeds, LS11 8PD

We’re screening a very special film – ‘Life is Beautiful: A Letter to Gaza’, for our community with an art workshop beforehand to creatively express ourselves. Free to all.

For more information please contact Lorna Gray at [email protected] or 07523911196

Short Film Festival

Doors 6:00pm
First Set of Films: 6:30pm-7:15pm
Second Set of Films: – 7:45pm-8:30pm
Archive, Kirkstall Road, LS3 1HD

Join Leeds Asylum Seeker Support Network (LASSN) at Archive for a night of powerful storytelling. Through two sets of short films, you’ll see multiple different perspectives on life as a refugee/ asylum seeker, from all around the world. Tickets available at: www.eventbrite.com/e/lassn-refugee-week-short-film-festival-tickets-1381952780969. Alternatively, if you cannot pay the Eventbrite fee, then please contact [email protected] for alternative ticket arrangements. Sugested donation £5 -10.

For more information call 01133731759 or email [email protected]

Friday 20th June

RETAS Art Exhibition: ‘Between Two Worlds’

from 9:00am, RETAS, 233-237 Roundhay Rd, Harehills, Leeds, LS8 4HS

Between the past and the unknown future, between loss and hope, lies the refugee experience—a space of transition, memory, and resilience. Between Two Worlds invites artists to reflect on this space through personal, political, or poetic lenses.

For more information please contact Lorna Gray at [email protected] or 07523911196

Whispers from Damascus – Opera North

Doors 7:00pm, show begins 7:45pm, The Howard Assembly Room, 32 New Briggate, LS1 6NU

Join us for a celebration of this year’s World Refugee Day with four leading musicians from Syria who are now based in the UK. Throughout the evening, they will share their passion for the evocative music and traditional instruments of their home country, while exploring what it means to play contemporary Arab music today. Price: pay as you can.

For more information visit www.operanorth.co.uk/whats-on/whispers-from-damascus/

Saturday 21st June

Refugee World Cup 2025 (RCOs, Agencies and Organisations)

12.30 pm-5.00 pm, Thomas Danby Sports Centre, Roundhay Road, LS73BG

Football tournaments are a great way of bringing together RCOs, local communities and agencies’ football teams in a fun environment. Free to play, 7-a-side teams, refreshments provided. There will also be entertainment for families and children.

To register your team contact Ali Mahgoub: 0113 244 9600 / 07733171290, Khair Yacob: 07453927515 or David Skivington: 07564 267065

Sunday 22nd June

Family Flourish Day – Mafwa Theatre

4:00pm – 8:00pm, Roxby Community Garden, Lindsey Rd, Leeds, LS9 7LR

Join Mafwa Theatre for their Family Flourish Day – a joyful summer celebration held in the Roxby Community Garden. Expect a vibrant mix of performances, creative workshops, and hands-on activities for all ages – plus delicious food and plenty of garden joy. We’re joined by Chapel FM, Clowns Without Borders, Harmony Choir, the Henry Moore Institute, Leeds Bike Mill, the Lincoln Greeners, Space2, and more – plus: Dance workshops with Cookie Wang and Enisia Mashusha, family-friendly stalls, and interactive activities throughout the day. The event is free and everyone is welcome – come dance, eat, play and celebrate!

For more information email Molly: [email protected]

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