Refugee Week 2025

• Monday 16 June
• 6pm to 7.30pm
• The York Guildhall Riverside Lounge and online

What role for universities, local authorities, human rights organisations, faith groups and refugee and migrant support organisations? A round-table for York Refugee Week 2025?

Please join us for a panel discussion to launch Refugee Week 2025 as we examine the role of universities and cities of sanctuary in building a welcoming community for refugees and asylum seekers during a time of increasing anti-migrant hostility.

Speakers include:

• Pro-Vice Chancellor for Enterprise, Partnerships and Engagement Professor Kiran Trehan
• Director of Philanthropy, Mary Haworth
• Dr Rachel Alsop from the Centre for Women's Studies at the University of York
• Dr Ahmed Khaleel from York City of Sanctuary and John Williamson from Refugee Action York
• Emma Greenall and Jodie Cook from the City of York Council's Refugee Resettlement Programme

The panel will be chaired by Professor Simon Parker and Professor Sara de Jong of the University of York Migration Network.

A limited number of tickets are available for the in person event at the York Guildhall Riverside Lounge, or it is possible to register for the online webinar if you would prefer to attend remotely.

Book in-person tickets

Register for online attendance

We would like to invite all refugees to participate and share their stories on The Book of Refugees project. 

The project provides an insight into the refugees' stories of survival; it will raise awareness amongst both the communities refugees live in and the policy makers about their culture, memories and traumatic experiences, dreams and aspirations. It highlights the importance of finding solutions for their dilemmas that rely on their testimonies and first-hand accounts. This knowledge will create a bridge between refugees and their new communities. It should help change negative attitudes about them, contribute to decreasing the level of hate and racism and promote integration.

Find out more about The Book of Refugees

9.45am to 12.45pm, in-person at the Treehouse (Berrick Saul Building) and online

Join us for a morning connecting ideas and practical tools amongst individuals and organisations looking to explore creative practice with refugees and asylum seekers. We will be showcasing a taster workshop and facilitating discussion around music and arts practice, as well as research ideas and network plans - do come and share your ideas! 

This event will be photographed, and audio recordings of the music will be made. 

Book for the Common Ground Networking Event

7pm to 8pm, online

Article 26 of the International Declaration of Human Rights states the right to education. Yet across the world, many academics are facing the need to flee persecution. How is the University of York facing this challenge?

As part of Refugee Week, join speakers Robin Perutz and Saeed Akkad for a fascinating discussion drawing on their experiences as scientific researchers. They will look at how policy changes in America are influencing the wider world, the threat of disinformation in 2025, and what happens when a government is at odds with its own researchers.

Find out more and book for Equality, academic freedom and human rights

5.30pm to 7pm, online

For this Visual Ethics Network event, we will be joined by Professor Claudia Mitchell (McGill University) to discuss the ethical challenges identified in curatorial conversations when working with the artwork of refugee children and war-affected youth. The event will comprise a talk, a discussion, and a participatory workshop. The event is funded by the Centre for Modern Studies, University of York and it is free to attend.

Find out more and sign up for Honouring the artwork

11.30am to 2pm, Greg’s Place

Yahala Mataam's popular street food stall is back to help us mark Refugee Week. 

Yahala Mataam CIC is a Social Enterprise based in York. Its mission is to give opportunity, build confidence and restore dignity in the lives of refugees and asylum seekers in York by offering opportunities in its pop-up restaurant, street food stand, catering business and cookery school.

Our Student Support team dedicated to supporting refugee students will also be at Greg’s Place between these times to speak with anyone who would like to learn more about the support we offer to students during their studies at York.