Brighton and Hove Sanctuary on Sea Launch - A Successful Start to Refugee Week

Thank you to everyone who made it to Brighton and Hove Sanctuary on Sea Launch this past Sunday at the Brighthelm Centre. We were thrilled to see that so many Brightonians attended the event, filling the Brighthelm Centre to full capacity and marking a successful start to Refugee Week 2015. Lots of people pledged their support towards making Brighton and Hove a place of welcome and hospitality, and provided suggestions for the future direction of the group.

If you did however happen to miss the this wonderful evening of celebration and sharing, don’t worry here is a short recap:

Brighton and Hove Sanctuary on Sea hosted the opening event for Refugee Week 2015 at the Brighthelm Centre. At the event Brighton & Hove was named “Sanctuary on Sea” in recognition of the city-wide efforts made to create a culture of welcome for people fleeing conflict and persecution. Tiffy Allen, coordinator of the National City of Sanctuary movement presented the award to Council Leader Warren Morgan. The Council Leader underlined the city’s commitment to welcoming refugees following a rousing introductory speech by Green MP Caroline Lucas.

This packed event brought together refugee women, volunteers, politicians, artists and members of the public. The event also celebrated the launch of the Sanctuary on Sea group and featured the premiere of “Tasting My Future”, a documentary about refugee women in Brighton & Hove, made by local film-makers Sylvie Collier and Cathy Maxwell. The inspirational women starring in the film shared their stories of fear, escape, survival and the hope of forging a safe new life. Finally there was Chilean folk music by Jorge Morales and delicious food from Ethiopia, Venezuela and Turkey.

If you would like to find out more about what the event was about you can also have a look at the Itv Meridian interview with Sanctuary on Sea Chair Jenny Lansdell; Reem Abushawareb who stars in “Tasting my Future”, and film-maker Sylvie Collier.