"Hosting breaks down barriers and helps you realise how similar everyone is."
Join us as we host Refugees at Home for an online session about hosting refugees and how you can get involved. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and get to know the ins & outs of hosting.
Refugees at Home is the UK’s largest independent hosting charity, matching refugees and people seeking asylum with people willing to open their home and help them rebuild their lives.
We are hosting this session on Wednesday 22nd April at 6pm. Find out more and book your space here: https://calendly.com/localwelcome/local-welcome-refugees-at-home
A Derby leader shared the following idea for their May meal in our National Leaders WhatsApp group this week and it’s already inspired a couple of other groups to join in!:
Some of you may have heard of https://millionactsofhope.org - @1mactsofhope - in a nutshell a campaign to celebrate a very different narrative to the hate and division we are told surrounds us.
Lots of refugee support charities are involved, along with organisations as diverse as Women’s Institute and the TUC. Although Local Welcome meals (themselves an Act of Hope) don’t take place during the week of action (13-20 May) LW are going to promote what we’re up to at the May meal during that week and thought that maybe other groups would also like to do something.
The Derby family plan to have a slightly orange themed menu to celebrate the orange heart - a symbol of compassion, hope and solidarity and the colour of the refugee nation flag - Sweet Potato Dhal, Carrot and Tomato salad, Tabbouleh and Flatbreads (not everything is orange!) followed by oranges!
I’ve got some giant post-it notes (on offer at Sainsbury’s £2.75) and will ask folks to write or draw something that gives them hope. I’ve got a roll of brown paper to stick them on for a photo opportunity. I’ve also got some seed bombs to give out in the hope that we can spread wild flowers around Derby!
For me this campaign is about noticing and celebrating the goodness that’s already there. I sometimes need reminding of that - and I think others might too.
If you’d like to join this WhatsApp group please send us a message and we’ll send you the link! It’s a great place to connect, share ideas and seek advice from brilliant leaders like you from across all 10 of our groups 💜
Q: What did you like most about the whole day? A: “The friendliness and happiness of everyone preparing and sharing a meal together” - Norwich