Work of refugees will be celebrated (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Work of refugees will be celebrated

11:37pm Friday 13th June 2008 in Search By Paddy McGuffin

Bradford will be lit up next week by a series of events aimed at celebrating the tenth annual Refugee Week.

Zimbabwean theatre group Theatre Under Fire will launch the week's celebrations at the Carlisle Business Centre, where the Lord Mayor will officially open proceedings.

The week is aimed at creating opportunities for British people to meet asylum seekers and refugees, and the Bradford events will be among more than 60 scheduled across Yorkshire in Bradford, Sheffield, Leeds, Hull, York, Wakefield, Halifax, Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster.

The Yorkshire-wide programme includes festivals, parties, sport events, family fun days, music gigs, roadshows, picnics, art and photo exhibitions, film screenings, theatre shows, conferences, debates, fashion shows.

Vikki Greenman, of Bradford Action for Refugees, said: "Refugee week is a national celebration of the contribution made by refugees and asylum seekers in Bradford and elsewhere in the UK.

"Bradford in particular has a rich history of welcoming refugees and immigrants.

"We use refugee week to highlight the positive aspects and contributions made by refugees and immigrants to our society. The week aims to encourage a diverse range of events and promote understanding."

The Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Howard Middleton said the celebrations would underline Bradford's long history as a place where refugees have found sanctuary.

He said: "Bradford has a tradition of welcoming refugees, and in the current political climate I think it is important to reflect the positive contribution they have made, and continue to make here.

"I myself am an immigrant to Bradford, if only from Huddersfield. Many of us chose to come here and that is what makes Bradford the place it is. I am delighted on behalf of Bradford Council to stress the importance place refugees have in our society."

Charlotte Cooke, head of operations (North) at the Refugee Council, said: "It's inspiring to see Refugee Week programs coming in from all around the region.

"Refugee Week is a great opportunity for people who have come to the UK seeking sanctuary to meet people from our host communities and share food, music, entertainment, sport, have fun and learn a little more about each other."

The programme of events is as follows: Monday, 10am-2pm, Carlisle Business Centre: Official Launch by Lord Mayor of Bradford and performance by Theatre under Fire.

Tuesday, 7pm, The Shared Church (Church Green) Keighley: Roadshows by BEACON.

Thursday, June 19, St Mary's Church Hall, East Parade, Bradford: BIASAN party Friday, June 20, 12pm-3pm: Finale celebration in Centenary Square.