Art workshop collab soon on show

Over the summer we held three art workshops in collaboration with Severnside Community Rail Partnership, GWR and Cross Country Trains.

Children and adults from the refugee and asylum seeker community were invited along to create artwork on the theme of ‘Our Home’.

Look out for the lovely artwork soon to be on display at Bath Spa Station.

The next Beyond Bath talk is coming in October

The next Beyond Bath event takes place on Wednesday, 30 October — join us for an evening of dialogue and community building. Come, listen, and be inspired — let’s work together to reshape the narrative of migration!

The talk, entitled ‘Understanding the Venezuelan Refugee and Migrant Crisis’, is set to be a powerful and free community event.

Beyond Bath Talks are a series designed to raise awareness of global realities through the voices of migrants, refugees, and activists, all working towards a more inclusive society.

This month will focus on analysis of the Venezuelan refugee and migrant crisis, one of the largest mass migrations in history, caused not by war, but by economic collapse, which led to more than 6.1 million Venezuelans fleeing their country.

Hear directly from Venezuelan migrants as we explore the root causes of the migration, the challenges they face in their new countries, and the resilience that drives them forward.

You can view more about the event on Eventbrite here, where you can also sign up for free. 

Prize draw closes next week

The prize draw closes on 8 October to win a painting donated by Alce Harfied, the organiser of Bath Art Fair.

Raising money for Bath Welcomes Refugees, the crowdfunder prize draw offers a chance to win this Glastonbury festival painting featuring Elton John’s last set (more details here).

Entries cost just £5 and all funds raised go towards the work of Bath Welcomes Refugees.

Aya at Bath College and excited about future options

We were delighted when we received a video starring Aya, from one of our client families, talking about her excitement at joining Bath College to start the T-Levels foundation year in health & science.

In the video she says, “I am Kurdish Syrian and had a lot of hard times. I survived the war when I was five years old.”

Aya is now considering lots of positive options for her future including “being a paramedic, a nurse or a therapist working with young children.”

Afghan feast night is a crowd pleaser

Nearly 100 people enjoyed the hugely successful recent Afghan feast night at Batheaston Village Hall.

A big thanks to our cooks for the night, Negina, Nahida, Morwared and Wahideh, helped by Sosan, who together delivered an exceptional menu.

Dishes included tahchin, qurma (korma), sabzi stew, sambosa (similar to samosa) and qabuli palaw (a form of pilaf rice with raisins, carrot and slow cooked lamb). Desserts including the ferni (creamy and custardy with pistachios on top) and sherbrinj (an Afghan rice pudding made with cardamom).

Can you donate items for our fundraising boutique sale?

We need your lovely cast-offs and pre-loved donations for our next fundraising boutique sale on Wednesday 16 October.

For more info about where to drop off donations please email our fundraising team, Biddy Walcot or Salmuir.

For more details on the event in Combe Down, see the poster below, and see some photos below that for a behind-the-scenes peek of a similar sale in May.

Here’s a few shots from our pre-loved boutique sale that happened in May. A very stylish and fun fundraiser for Bath Welcomes Refugees!

Creche helpers wanted

Our language classes run a city centre creche to help provide an opportunity for those with childcare needs to access lessons.

The creche is a fun place (see photos below) in the centre of Bath takes place over two hours one lunchtime a week.

BWR needs a few more volunteers – no qualifications needed, just a little spare time and kindness. As with all our volunteers, we carry out DBS checks and provide an induction and safeguarding training for you.

For more details, email our Languages team or [email protected].

BWR jumble sale on 21 September

Calling all bargain hunters – here’s a date for your diary, Saturday 21 September – it’s the BWR jumble sale.

The sale will be between 10.30am and 12.30pm at St Andrew’s Community Centre (Previously Foxhill Community Centre) in Combe Down, on Hawthorn Grove, Bath BA2 5QA.

For more info or to donate items, please contact Amanda on 07805459760.

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Bath Art Fair organiser Alce Harfield to help raise money for Bath Welcomes Refugees

“Amidst the world’s troubles, worries and pain, there is still, and there will always be, hope, love
and positivity.”

This is the message Somerset artist Alce Harfield wants to keep highlighting, and as part of her commitment to this belief, the Bath Art Fair organiser is donating one of her iconic Glastonbury paintings to help raise money for Bath Welcomes Refugees via a crowdfunder prize draw

The artist, who also is the organiser of the Bath Art Fair which is being held at Bath Pavilion between Friday 13th and Sunday 15th September, has donated a brand new and original painting to help raise funds for Bath Welcomes Refugees.

The prize is an original acrylic painting on canvas (30” x 30”) is of the legendary Elton John performing his song ‘Rocket Man’ in 2023 on the Pyramid stage. Said to be his last ever performance, Elton chose this as his closing song as fireworks exploded around him in front of a packed-to-capacity enrapt Glastonbury crowd.

The work, entitled Rocketman, has been one of Alce’s most popular prints to date, and this is a one-off opportunity to own the actual original painting.

The prize draw can be found on the Crowdfunder website and could be won for as little as £5 per ticket, with all monies raised going to the Bath-based volunteer-led charity.

To enter the draw please visit https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/alce-harfield-painting-for-bath-welcomes-refugees-1 and purchase as many tickets as you’d like to be in with a chance of winning. You can also enter the draw by posting your £5 per ticket to: Alce Harfield painting for Bath Welcomes Refugees, 37 Northend, Bath BA1 7EG.

The draw closes on 8 October 2024 and the winner will be notified and will receive the original
work.

Bath Art Fair this year features affordable original art direct from more than 90 artists from around the country, many of who will be there to talk about their work.

Tickets for the fair can be bought online at www.bathartfair.co.uk/tickets/ for £6 with concessions available and under 18s free. Tickets are also available on the door for £7.

BWR delighted to be part of Bath Pride

BWR was delighted to be of part the very first Bath Pride on 18th August.

We are very aware of those who have to flee their country because of persecution for their sexuality.

This was true celebration of our community & diversity with family fun, colour and music!

Great to see so many people there and to receive such a lovely welcome from the participants.

person enquiring at BWR stand