MORE than 200 people attended a fundraiser in aid of refugees, with representatives from as far away as Bangladesh flying in to take part.

The all-day event – Come Together for Refugees – was held at the New Tyke bar and diner in Thornton Road, Bradford, on Saturday, October 14.

It was organised by Jim Innes, project manager with the Himmat and Ummid projects, which work with young people in Bradford and Halifax, and Sylvain Darffy-Wheatley, of Refugee Aid, in Bradford.

Mr Innes, of Bingley, said the event had been open for the local community to come and enjoy some music, entertainment and food.

“Around two hundred have come along and a number of these have been refugees,” he said on Saturday. “I was ecstatic with the turnout.

“The daytime event was targeted at young people and families with young people providing musical entertainment, singing and comedy acts.

“It was free to get in with money being raised through the sale of food and donations towards face-painting and other entertainment.”

In the evening there was a networking party organised at £10 per head for those involved in refugee organisations, with guests attending from France, Germany and Bangladesh.

Money raised will go towards helping refugees in Dunkirk, Calais, Paris, Iraq, Syria, Bangladesh and those already settled in Bradford through the Bradford Immigration and Asylum Seekers Support and Advice Network, BIASAN.

Other organisations represented included Refugee Aid, Bradford, and the Human Relief Foundation.

A popular activity was the Paper People Project, a public artwork project.

“Thousands of these life-size cut-outs are being created for an artistic display in City Park next summer,” said Mr Innes. “They will be displayed around the Mirror Pool and there will be orange flowers floating beneath them in the water to depict all the people who made it to safety across the Mediterranean.”

Councillor Bev Mullaney (Lab, Thornton and Allerton) said: “It has been a fantastic event.” Councillor Richard Dunbar (Lab, Thornton and Allerton) also went along.

MORE TOP STORIES

Bradford West MP Naz Shah, who attended, said: “It has been great to be here and great to see the efforts of the community come together to highlight the issues of refugees. It has really made my proud that this has happened on my patch.

“It is something that we must have more of.”