Finding Refuge – in South Kesteven

Did you know that South Kesteven residents currently provide homes for the highest number of Ukraine refugees in the whole of Lincolnshire and that SKDC has just agreed to buy 21 homes, initially for Afghan and Ukrainian refugees and then to meet local housing needs? Having worked with the Refugee Council for 4 years I felt thrilled to read this – but how do you feel?

Would you like to find out more about the real stories of people seeking refuge? Do you sometimes wonder how you can welcome and help them? REFUGEE WEEK 2023 runs from 19-25 June, with the theme of ‘Compassion’. On Saturday morning 24th June 10.0012.00 we are holding a ‘Finding Refuge’ event at the Open Door Baptist Church, Spalding Rd.

You can hear: Rose Booker Macedo – brought up in Deeping St James, Rose went straight from Deepings School to work for a year in Cambodia, did a Masters in Human Rights, and currently works with the British Red

Cross as a refugee case worker: Who are the refugees and asylum seekers, why are they here, and what is their life in the UK really like?

Lynne Booker – a counsellor in Deeping St James for 20 years, recently retired after four years as a Psychological Therapist with the Refugee Council: Some refugee stories, how people are affected by their experiences, what they can offer the UK and what kind of support they might need.

Jay Gearing – film maker from Helpston will show and discuss his short film The Suitcase made by refugees in East Anglia.

I hope to have an SKDC representative to quiz, to invite some people with lived experience of seeking refuge, and you will have opportunity to ask questions, chat with others, take away information, have a coffee and taste lovely homemade food from different countries!