City to celebrate Refugee Week

PLYMOUTH will join the rest of the country in celebrating Refugee Week with an array of activities.

The week, which runs from Monday until Sunday, June 21, is a UK-wide programme of arts, cultural and educational events that celebrate the contribution refugees have made to the UK.

It also aims to cultivate a better understanding between communities.

Various local organisations have come together to deliver events in the city, which have been coordinated by Theatre Royal Plymouth. Events have already started, with even more lined up for the coming days, including workshops and performances by the Theatre Royal's refugee and asylum seeker drama groups.

From 5.30pm today, there will be a celebratory evening in the Theatre Royal Plymouth foyer, performances, speakers and refreshments. At 2pm today and on Thursday, there will be a 'bookstart' party with music and rhymes from around the world for under-fives at the Central Library at Drake's Circus.

Tomorrowat 9.30am there will be a conservation day with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) and baby massage at Keystone Sure Start in Devonport at 1pm.

On Wednesday, Theatre Royal Plymouth's Voices Community Choir will sing music from around the world from 6.45pm.

On Thursday, there will be a 'have tea with a refugee' event at the Central Library at 3.30pm.

At 8.30pm on Thursday, members of the People's Company will tell stories from different cultures at 12 Neptune Park, Cattedown.

On Friday, there will be a Keystone Celebrating Difference event from 1pm to 3.30pm at Manor Street Children's Centre in Stonehouse with baby massage at 1pm.

Participating organsations include Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support Council (DCRSC), Refugee Action, Refugees First, Plymouth Libraries, Nomony Children's Centre, Plymouth Centre for Faiths and Cultural Diversity, City College and Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support Council Students and Refugees Together (START). Refugee Week 2009 is also supported by Plymouth City Council and the Plymouth Children and Young People's Trust.

For more information on the events, visit www.theatreroyal.com/refugeeweek.