July 2020
June 2020
Volunteer write up from Huddersfield University
We've been very lucky to have a family volunteering with us during the lockdown, helping make up and deliver the art packs we've been sending out to families and individuals. Thank you! Mel is a Social Work student at Huddersfield University and the have wrote this piece up about her... https://www.hud.ac.uk/news/2020/june/student-support-for-refugees-and-asylum-seekers/ Thanks also to everyone who has donated items for the packs, Arts Drop for the art packs, and to another of our amazing volunteers Jamie who has been coming in every Tuesday to sort through the donations!
Refugee Week – What’s on June 15th to 21st
It's Refugee Week June 15th to 21st! We would usually have a party but unfortunately we won't be able to that this year due to the Coronavirus, but we're going to celebrate as much as we can! Monday 15th June we have Robin Tuddenham (Chief Executive of Calderdale Council) coming to the Centre. We will be taking a drone photograph in the garden of the Refugee Week logo. Throughout the week we will sharing lots via social media, so please keep an eye out on our facebook and Twitter. We will be debuting the work by artist Ruth Dyer, a film featuring some of our Centre Users, and lots of recipes kindly given to us by our Centre Users. On Friday The Artworks will also be featuring the Here I Am project. There was a total of 365 submissions! This is also an opportunity to find out more about Calderdale Valley of Sanctuary. This is a group of individuals and organisations (including us!) working to make Calderdale a safe and welcoming place for Refugees and Asylum Seekers. If you would like to find out more go to their website. Get involved!
May 2020
HERE I AM
You are being invited by Artworks to take part in an art project to celebrate Refugee Week in June. It’s open to anyone of any age living in Calderdale. Take part by making something about you and sending it before the 5th June by text or email to join thousands of other contributions from across our valley. Whatsapp / text: 07914863892 or email: info@theartworks.org.uk with your name, age & postcode Your contributions will become part of a collective artwork shared during Refugee Week 15-20 June. Follow the link to the website for some ideas for your contribution: https://www.theartworks.org.uk/here-i-am It can be a picture, film, poem... The perfect creative project during the lockdown!
The History of the May Bank Holiday
The early May Bank Holiday falls on a Friday this year to commemorate VE Day. Our VPR Support Worker, Jihen, spent some time looking into the history of the May Bank Holiday and compiled this document (also translated into Arabic) for some of her clients. We thought we'd share it as it is very interesting and a useful tool to learn some history! May Bank Holidays in English May Bank Holidays in Arabic
April 2020
Artist needed!
Thanks to all who made a submission - we have now chosen an artist and submissions are closed. VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF OUR CENTRE USER’S NEEDS: pre and during CV-19 Introduction We work with 600 refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, a third of whom are in family groups. They come from approx. 40 countries and speak 52 different languages. Some have been granted leave to stay in the UK, but most are involved in lengthy, legal negotiations with the Home office for the right to be in this county. This process often goes on for years. It can be tricky explaining the complex and varying needs our centre users face, which have been further compounded by Covid-19. We thought it would be useful – both as a tool and an awareness raising device – to try and capture these issues visually. We love the infographic and illustrative approach to conveying information clearly, and we wanted to combine that with an artist’s style, to make something eye-catching. Artists brief To create a 2D artwork that can be easily understood by everyone because it isn’t language based. It could involve a few words and stats but should be mainly visual. It needs to convey the range of issues and needs [...]