SANCTUARY SUNDAY @ LLOYDS CAFÉBAR, CENTENARY SQUARE, BRADFORD

SUNDAY 26^TH JUNE 2011, 3PM TO 7PM

Sun 26th June 2011, 3-7pm: SANCTUARY SUNDAY @ Lloyds Cafébar, (Upstairs Function Area), Centenary Square, Bradford, BD1 1HY

SolaMatik Festival, HEM (Holmewood Ethnic Minorities), Bradford Rape Crisis and the Congo Awareness Group present the official Bradford Refugee Week civic reception for Bradford’s brand new lord mayor Naveeda Ikram, on Sunday the 26th of May, which is the final event after a week of activities celebrating Bradford’s diverse refugee communities, and their creative input into our multicultural society. Our vibrant yet thoughtful Sunday afternoon event features live music, dance, storytelling, a fashion show, and much, much more. Everybody is welcome to attend this excellent opportunity to counteract myths and mistruths with real-life stories of hardship, suffering, misery, humanity, AND YET, ABOVE ALL, HOPE!!!

Come down to town in the afternoon, and unite in the celebration of cultural diversity, discovering the truth about life as a refugee seeking sanctuary from danger.

Our family-friendly event is open to everybody from all communities, and is totally free to attend. No advance booking required. Food and refreshments available all afternoon.

What is Refugee Week?

Refugee Week is a UK-wide programme of arts, cultural and educational events that celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK, and encourages a better understanding between communities. Refugee Week 2011 takes place from 20 – 26 June 2011.

Every year during Refugee Week hundreds of events are organised across the UK. In 2010, there were over 550 small and large events, ranging from big music festivals and art exhibitions to political debates, film screenings, conferences, school activities, sports and community events etc

2011 Theme

This year is the 60′th anniversary of the refugee convention, and we’ll be focusing on the theme of 60 years of Contribution for Refugee Week 2011.

This year’s refugee week celebrations in Bradford just like any other cities are packed with eye opening facts about refugees.  An able and fantastic team started meeting since July, 2010 to plan for this year’s refugee week celebrations which include organisations such as City of Sanctuary, BEACON, STAR, BIASAN, British Red Cross, Bradford Action for Refugees, Horton Housing, Sharing Voices, NRC, Raising the Roofs, Solamatik, Bradford Refugee Forum (which chairs this year’s Refugee Week), West Yorkshire Police, Education (Bradford), etc.

There is so much misinformation circulating about refugees and asylum seekers in the media that it is sometimes hard to work out what is reality and what is myth.  This year’s program is packed with information from personal testimonies that can help you to figure out the facts from the fibs.

All you need is to mark the following dates and times and simply show up.  All the events are absolutely free to everyone.

This year’s celebrations fall on 20th to 26th June, 2011.  During this week, Bradford will hold the following events:

• The celebrations will begin with the refugees joining the Bradford community at the 2011 Mela which will be held on 12^th June,  where different performances will be held, such as Music Dance, Drumming, etc from members of the local refugees and asylum seekers communities
• Launch Event which will be on 20th June, 2011 at  Kala Sangam, 1 Forster Square, Bradford BD1 4TY, starting from 10am to 2pm.  The Lord Mayor  is the guest of Honour on this day, there will be personal testimonies from different people who have come to seek sanctuary in Bradford and there will be a lot of information on display, fantastic performances by the refugees (Music and dance), drama by young children and many more.
• The BEACON Walk for Justice on Wednesday, 22 June.  This walk is aimed at drawing attention to asylum seekers having to walk from Bradford to Leeds to register.  The walk will start at 10am from Centenary Square, Bradford to Waterside House , Leeds.  Approx. 10 miles. Many walkers will be sponsored.
• The Finale Celebration which will be on 24th June at Urban Gardens starting from 12noon to 2pm.  People will enjoy food made by different countries in the world plus music and dance from different countries, cultures and religion.
• Football Tournament on 25th June, 2011 where both men and women’s teams are going to participate and there will also be a variety of games at Goals Sports Academy (Junior teams) and Manningham Sports Stadium (adults teams) from 10am to 4pm.  Trophy’s and prizes are already packed for the winning teams.
• On the same day, 25^th June, 2011, a BIASAN Gig has been organised at Manningham Mills Community Centre starting from 07.30pm till 11pm.  Fantastic live bands and many more entertaining activities have been planned.  Affordable entrance tickets to the event will soon be on sale, stay alert for our past event attracted a lot of people.  So don’t miss your chance this time.
• On the final day, 26^th June, 2011, Solamatik, HEM & Congo Awareness Group (CRC & Bradford Rape Crisis) has organised a refugee week support event which has been titled “Sanctuary Sunday”.  This event is marking the end of 2011 Refugee Week Celebrations where everyone in Bradford is invited to come and learn about their real stories as well as celebrate the contributions of refugees in Bradford over the years.

The event is blessed with the presence of the Lord Mayor who will speak to the celebrating crowd.  There will be performers, stories, exhibition, drama & of course refreshments.

Families & children welcome. The event will be held from 3pm to 6pm at the City Hall.

Recap 2011

Under the chairmanship of Will Sutcliffe, Bradford Refugee Week for 2010 was held from 16^th to 22^nd June.  The celebrations registered a number of successful and memorable achievements.  Many Asylum Seekers and refugees were represented including national and Bradford based organisations, on the theme: “different pasts shared future.”

RW Press Release – 2011

1. the Launch which will be on 20th June, 2011 at Kala Sangam (St Peter’s House), Forster Square, on Bolton Road, starting from 10am to 2pm.  A lot of information on display, fantastic performances by the refugees (Music and dance), drama by young children and many more.
2. the Finale Celebration which will be on 24th June at Centenary Square starting from 10am to 2pm.  People will enjoy food made by different countries in the world and music and dance from different countries, cultures and religion.
3. and then we will have a Football Tournament on 25th June, 2011 where both men and women’s teams are going to participate and varieties of games at Goals Sports Academy (Junior teams) and Manningham Sports Stadium (adults teams) from 10am to 4pm.

Please see attached quotations from the Bradford Women Refugees and Asylum Seekers Conference held on 11th November.

Bradford_Women_Refugees_and_Asylum_Seekers_Conference_Quotations

Bradford Refugee Week for 2010 was held from 16^th to 22^nd June.  Despite, the late start of preparation by the Refugee Week Planning Group, the celebrations registered a number of successful and memorable achievements.  Many Asylum Seekers and refugees were represented including national and Bradford based organisations, different pasts shared future.

The celebrations began with the refugees joining the Bradford community at the 2010 Mela where different performances were held, such as Music Dance, Drumming, Poetry, Drama,, etc from members of the local refugees and asylum seekers communities, art exhibition, children’s play area.(see the photos)

The Refugee Week was launched at Carlisle Business Centre and about 200 attended the event on 16^th June which was opened by the Lord Mayor. Selina Ullah, Bradford Council’s Assistant Director Safer and Stronger Communities, gave a powerful keynote speech, followed by stunning music from Zimbabwean group ‘Theatre Under Fire’ – some brave souls even got up to dance.

Terry Rooney MP officially opened the Finale Refugee Week celebration on 22^nd June and 3 hours of  wonderfully diverse music and dance followed, showcasing the talents of Kurdish, East European, Congolese and Zimbabwean musicians.

A working group had been meeting since December, 2009, chaired by Will Sutcliffe from the City of Sanctuary and with representatives from local refugee community organisations.

The same planning group has, since August, 2010, started meeting to plan for the 2011 Refugee Week and Mela celebrations.  The group is now chaired by Beatrice Botomani, Secretary of the Bradford Refugee Forum.  The planning group wishes to involve more people from local refugee communities, and local organisations in planning meetings which are taking place on every third Wednesday of each month at BAFR offices, 40a Piccadilly, BD1 3NN from 12.30pm.  If you would like to join the planning group, please call Beatrice on 07900855722.

2011 Refugee Week will take place from 20^th to 25^th of June.  We are expecting that its successes will surpass every event that Bradford has held  in the past.  Many activities are being planned which include:  Music, Dances, Drumming, Poetry, Drama, Children performances, Ladies football and football tournaments .

 We are also working hard to identify sources of local funding. Any offers or suggestions call Beatrice or Christy (Tel01274 762 1000) !

Where: Balanga Restaurant in 78 Gordon Street BD1 3PT

When: Friday 29 October starting 330pm

Bradford Refugee Forum in partnership with Forster Community College, Holmewood Ethnic Minorities, Parity Associates and Trescom is organising a black history month community event at Balanga Restaurant in  78 Gordon Street BD1 3PT on Friday 29 October starting 330pm.  This is the first time the Refugee Forum is packaging such event which is aimed at recognising black cultural heritage and applauding the achievements of black icons that have successfully integrated into the communities in which they live.  The theme of the event is Promoting Inclusion and Community Cohesion Through Use of Positive Images of Black Cultural Heritage.

Black History Month originated in the USA where it has been celebrated in February of each year beginning 1926.  Comparable celebrations in UK began around 1987 and since then the month of October has been set aside for this purpose.   The event at Balanga Restaurant will see performances by Afro-Caribbean music groups such as Kwame D and Say It Loud and entertainment provided by a wide array of DJs that include Kath Canoville – Global Meltdown, Tareck Ghonheim – Sticks and Stones, Banaris Iqbal – Asian Beats and Jerry Crawford – Reggae.  Two black icons expected to speak at the event are Ben Mussanzi who is originally from Congo and is now Director of Conflict Resolution Centre in Bradford and Beatrice Botomani who leads the Bradford Women’s Network and is also secretary of the Bradford Refugee Forum.

Free Afro-Caribbean and Polish food will be provided.  This is a family event and everybody is welcome.  People are encouraged to wear ethnic clothing if they can and if weather allows.   Further information can be obtained from Bradford Refugee Forum Vice Chairperson Virginie Lusandu on virginielusandu7@hotmail.com or via the Forum’s website on info@bradfordrefugeeforum.org.uk

Contact Person: Ms. Beatrice Botomani
Organisation Name :  Bradford Refugee Forum
Telephone Number : 07900855722
Fax Number: 01274 730 761
Email Address: info@bradfordrefugeeforum.org.uk / Beatrice@bradfordrefugeeforum.org.uk

Web site address: http://www.bradfordrefugeeforum.org.uk/

 “Bradford to host first Women Refugees and Asylum Seekers Conference.”

To be held on the 11^th November, 2010 at the Carlisle Business centre, Bradford from 9am -1400 hours (Travel Expenses up to £3.50 provided including Lunch)

Bradford Refugee Forum has, for the first time ever, organised a conference for all women refugees and asylum seekers living in Bradford which will take place on 11^th November, 2010 at Carlisle Business Centre,  60 Carlisle Road, Bradford, BD8 8BD.  The aim of the conference is to bring women refugees and asylum seekers together under the umbrella of Bradford Refugee Forum in order to enhance the Forum’s inclusive agenda and to enable the women themselves to take ownership of their problems and solutions.  Specifically, the conference will provide an outlet for women asylum seekers and refugees to discuss and define their needs and expectations; and explore innovative ways and programmes for meeting those needs taking into account the need to strive for community cohesion and gender balance and engage partners in the private, statutory and voluntary community sectors including funders and service providers for purposes of working together to improve the quality of life for women asylum seekers and refugees and to create a sustainable organisation.

The Theme of the conference is “Empowering Women Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Bradford”.

During the day there shall be several organisations present and community members from Bradford and across Yorkshire and Humber and some from London to support the women refugees and asylum seekers such as Immigration Advice Service, OXFAM, Northern Refugee Centre,  Horton Housing, Our Project, HALE Project, Legal Aid, City of Sanctuary Bradford, Bradford Immigration and Asylum Seekers Network (BIASAN), Bradford Action for Refugees, ABL, etc), offering advice, and assistance.

 Included in the day’s events are two keynote speakers namely ,the CEO of Northern Refugee Centre Mr. Jim Steinke and (Aynalim/Elizabeth Benson, woman refugee) .  Other activities shall include various workshops providing an outlet for expression and recognition. These include five workshops in the following areas:

• Destitution and Poverty
• Housing
• Health and Well Being
• Immigration (process and legal aid)
• Children and Women (including maternity)

It is hoped that in the long run, the conference’s work will help lay a firm foundation for creating a voice for women asylum seekers and refugees in Bradford and in defining pathways for greater access to essential services.

In her dream, Beatrice Botomani, the initiator of this conference and secretary of Bradford Refugee Forum says, “this is the beginning or foundation of a vibrant and proactive women refugee community which will result in the launch of Why Refugee Women Campaign which is hopefully to be launched in March during the International Women’s Day Event, 2011.  She said, airing the problems and concerns which this minority group has will set a basis of empowerment and confidence within them.  With the support that they will receive from the community and the service providers present on this day, a sense of feeling that they have got to do something will be developed, they have got to voice out even more and more and saturate the airwaves of the Bradford community about who they are and what type of life they have been and are going through and how they picture their future and that they need the community to understand them, and support them”.

To facilitate this, it is important that the women refugees and asylum seekers be provided with the right information at the right time and right place to enable them to make informed choices.  To achieve this different service providers will set up Information Shopping Stalls at which conference delegates (refugees and asylum seekers) will access wanted information and engage themselves directly with the service providers. 

Due to the diversified nature of the  Asylum seeking and refugee community already prepared interpreted information pack in different languages will be available and where possible  assistance to interpret shall be available throughout the day.

 In the frame of 50^th Anniversary of the Independence of 17 African states in 2010:

 The Centre Resolution Conflicts (CRC) of Bradford,

In partnership with Foster Community College (FCC)’s Health Creation Bradford (HCB), Sharing Voices Bradford (SVB), Bradford University’s Programme for a Peaceful City (PPC), Parity Associates Ltd and Bradford Council,

Cordially invites you to attend

 A Conference on “Half a Century Walk in the Desert (HCWD), Black History Month and the DR Congo Week 2010”: Designing the Future of Africa’ 

Date : Saturday 23^rd  October 2010

Venue: Room GTA JSB, Richmond Building, Richmond Road, Bradford, BD7 1DP

Time: Arrive 11.00am (start 12pm) – 3.30pm

The day will include: speeches & Workshops.

All are welcome but places are limited and the deadline for booking is Thursday 21^st October 2010. To avoid disappointment, please book your place NOW at this address:

c/o Benoit (Ben) Mussanzi wa Mussangu, CRC All Saints Church, Bradford BD5 0NG, Tel: 07500410772, or email: crc_bradford@yahoo.com; info@cr-conflict.org,

www.cr-conflict.org

 For parking reason, please use public transport if you can.

2010 10 23 Flyer CRC’s HCWD

Bradford Refugee Forum and Partners Invite’s you to the

Empowering Women Refugee and Asylum Seeker’s Conference

11 November 2010

Carlisle Business Centre

9.00am – 2.00pm

Come along and have your say – exercise your right

Express any issues or concerns you may be experiencing.

Meet other people in similar situations

Service providers will be available

Tell us your issues/concerns in various workshops.

Lunch will be provided.

Please complete the attached form below

Booking Form