Warwickshire residents make collective journey to support and mark Refugee Week - The Leamington Observer

Warwickshire residents make collective journey to support and mark Refugee Week

Leamington Editorial 16th Jun, 2021 Updated: 16th Jun, 2021   0

A COLLECTIVE journey of some 40 miles is marking Refugee Week this week.

The movement – founded in 1998 and held every year around World Refugee Day on June 20 – aims to celebrate the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary and to show support and solidarity.

To mark the week, workers from Warwickshire County Council’s (WCC) social care services have organised a 37-mile fund-raising walk for young people from Birmingham to Warwick in five legs, covering five days, which began on Monday (June 14).

The event ties in with this years’ theme: ‘We cannot walk alone’, inspired by a quote from civil rights leader Martin Luther King’s iconic ‘I have a dream’ speech.




Warwickshire County Council has a history of supporting refugees in the county from unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people to Syrian families who have settled in the county as part of the Syrian resettlement scheme following the 10-year civil war in the Middle-East country.

As well as the sponsored walk, outside Warwick Library there is a display of quotes from refugees, recently resettled in Warwickshire, on their experiences of fleeing the war-torn country. South Warwickshire libraries will also feature refugee themed book displays during the week to educate people on the topic.


WCC leader Izzi Seccombe said: “The fact that, when the need arises, Warwickshire comes together to provide a safe place for refugees to begin to heal and rebuild their lives is a testament to what a fantastic place this county is to live.

“I am immensely proud that Warwickshire County Council is able to provide a comprehensive package of support to refugees and that local communities always go above and beyond to make some of our most vulnerable residents so welcome.

“In Warwickshire refugees are able to begin their healing in a county that has always celebrated and welcomed diversity; a county that has always offered help to its most vulnerable residents; and a county that has a deep and enduring sense of civic-mindedness at its very heart.”

All proceeds from the sponsored walk will be given to the Refugee Council which supports refugees around the world.

Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/liss-phillips19 to donate.

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