Chester City of Sanctuary - Refugee Week 2026

To celebrate and highlight Refugee Week 2026 Chester City of Sanctuary group have collaborated with Storyhouse, Chester Cathedral, The Bishops’ Bluecoat Church of England High School, Chester and others to produce a fantastic programme of events.

The Chester City of Sanctuary Group is leading the Refugee Week celebrations this year and working in partnership with Storyhouse, Chester Cathedral and the CWAC Refugee and Asylum Seeker Team.

This year’s theme is courage, and we are celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.

The word courage comes from the Latin cor, meaning “heart.”

Inspired by the lives and experiences of people seeking sanctuary, Refugee Week 2026 invites us to explore the theme of Courage.

For refugees around the world, courage is often a daily necessity. It is the courage to face unknown journeys, learn new languages, navigate unfamiliar systems, or simply to wake up each morning and step into an uncertain world.

At a time when some seek to divide and blame, Refugee Week 2026 calls us to come together and share the courage to welcome, to stand for what we believe in, and to celebrate culture and community – to be joyful, imagine new possibilities, dream, heal, and connect.

Courage isn’t always loud or bold. It can be found in simple acts: opening your door to a neighbour, trying new food, reading a book, or watching a film that changes your view of the world. It can be speaking up, asking for help, sharing your story – or simply having the courage to be yourself.

Through art, stories, and community, we celebrate the courage that lives within us all – and how connection helps it grow.

Join us for Refugee Week 2026, 15th –21st June 2026.

There will be a Tapestry of Welcome in Storyhouse foyer which represents 24 different organisations which are offering welcome and support to sanctuary seekers across the Borough.

Do come and take a look and get more information about the different organisations. There will also be information to take away.

In the library, Quilts of Courage are going to be created. These were started in May half term where children created a quilt square which expresses what courage means to them – this could be written words or a drawing.

The Bishops’ Blue Coat Church of England High School will have an exhibition of art, words and poetry on the first floor of Storyhouse called “CO-EXISTENCE”

The Old Oak – on Wednesday 17th June 6.00pm:

There will be a special refugee week screening followed by a Q& A with Canon Dr Anthony Lees – Smith and Dr Valerie Barron who was the Vicar in the film and is a community organiser in Tyne and Wear and Neil Gibbons and Mike Johnson, Trustees of Chester City of Sanctuary.

Courage – a Musical Reflection with Matt Baker, Theatre in the Quarter - on Thursday 18th June 6.30pm in The Kitchen:

Featuring a delve into stories of a range of people who have made Chester their home and music from the University of Chester Choir, Proud Mary’s Choir, Plum Club and Theatre in the Quarter’s young people along with Patchwork Choir. Along with Irfan Rais and Sadegh Dabiri

There is a film festival at Wesley Church Centre.

Heather Swainston from Chester City of Sanctuary says:

“We are a volunteer group of local people promoting a culture of welcome and hospitality for those in our area who are seeking sanctuary from persecution and war.

http://www.chester.cityofsanctuary.org

This will help raise awareness for those wanting to understand asylum and refugee issues and to get people to empathise with people who have to flee their country – often leaving everything they know because their or their families’ lives are in danger.

We are delighted that CWAC is a Borough of Sanctuary and so too the Cathedral and Wesley Church Centre.

There will be a great programme of events happening to celebrate Refugee Week 15th – 21st June.