RLRH marked the start of Refugee Week at the Oxford Sanctuary Fair over the weekend, joining community groups and organisations from across the city for a day celebrating sanctuary, welcome and the people who make Oxford a place of refuge.
The Oxfordshire Community Hub team were there throughout the day to share their work and connect with visitors. The OCH team/ affiliates organised games, including a sanctuary-themed treasure hunt in the garden and a Refugee Snakes and Ladders board game where each player navigated the challenges of the asylum-seeking process, and encouraged visitors to answer the prompt: “what does Sanctuary mean to you?”
A particular focus was sharing the OCH Fellowship opportunity, which begins this summer. The six-month paid Fellowship supports a cohort of graduates and aspiring researchers to design, develop and complete an independent research project in the social sciences and humanities, alongside academic development, professional growth and community engagement. It is open to those who have lived experience of forced displacement and are based in or able to travel to Oxfordshire for weekly in-person workshops.
The Fair also came shortly after the close of the OCH Writing Residency, a 12-week programme that concluded last week. We couldn’t be prouder of the cohort and everything they achieved over the course of it.
“The Oxford Sanctuary Fair was a wonderful celebration of welcome, community, and solidarity. Seeing so many local organisations, volunteers, and neighbours coming together to support and celebrate is a powerful reminder of why these spaces matter. They bring people together, strengthen communities, and give each of us the opportunity to play a small part in something much bigger than ourselves.” – Delphine Boagey, OCH Programme Officer.
The fair was just the beginning of a vibrant week across RLRH. Stay with us on LinkedIn over the coming days to see more from our community. 🧡
