Get Active – Inspirations:

“Our Home”, the theme for Refugee Week 2024, invites us to explore home in the global context, in our communities and also on the personal level – looking at our bodies as our homes and our sanctuaries too.

Whether it’s kicking a ball on the pitch, or breaking a sweat at the local sports centre, getting active isn’t just about exercise – it’s about connecting with ourselves and those around us. So this Refugee Week, let’s use the power of sports to celebrate connection & togetherness and Get Active! 

Easy ideas to take part:

  • Organise a friendly game
  • Partner with local sports and/ or refugee group
  • Organise a special event (e.g. competition, film screening events, dance shows etc).

One step further:

  • If you’re a gym-goer, how could you encourage your leisure centre to offer sessions or create a free open day for people navigating the asylum system?
  • For those with access to sports facilities, how can you make your space more welcoming? Consider hosting an event or opening your venue to people navigating the asylum system. Gyms and sports clubs aren’t just places to work out; they can also be a home away from home that fosters community.

Organisations & events to check out:

  • Did you know Refugee Week 2024 and Euro 2024 will be at the same time this year? Check out Football of Sanctuary which awards football clubs for their inclusive commitment and dedication to supporting people who seek refuge, such as Newcastle United, check out also Amnesty’s Football Welcomes project and many more!
  • Ahead of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, make yourself familiar with the inspiring and talented Refugee Olympic Team. As Thomas Bach, the President of the International Olympic Committee said: “The IOC Refugee Olympic Team sends a great signal about what an enrichment refugees are for our Olympic community and for society at large. Watching them compete is a great moment for all of us, and we hope everyone will join. The athletes are welcome in our Olympic community, among their fellow athletes – competing with them, but also living with them together under one roof.” We are rooting for so many like Cyrille Tchatchet and Cindy Ngamba
  • Are you looking for a new bike or would you like to donate yours? The Bike Project takes second-hand bikes, fixes them up and donates them to refugees and people seeking asylum in London and Birmingham. They also offer cycling classes for women by women and their befriending programme matches bike recipients to friendly and passionate volunteers to go on bike rides together.
  • The Moving Mountains Project aim is to inspire and improve the outlook of people seeking sanctuary through the great outdoors. They believe that every child has the right to dream and that in this world of inequality the great outdoors offers everyone the same inspiration regardless of their starting point in life.
  • Refugees Rock is a free climbing club for people fleeing war, persecution, and exploitation. They work alongside the British Red Cross and several local charities across the UK to bring people from all backgrounds together to have fun in an inclusive community, build relationships based on trust and gain a sense of belonging. Newcomers to the UK are invited to climb for free alongside Hangar coaches and volunteers from the Hangar Community, then grab free coffees and hang out together in a relaxed, welcoming setting.
  • Yonder Surf Academy is an all-women’s surf school in North Tyneside. Their mission is to inspire and support marginalised women and girls to build confidence, self-esteem and positive mental health. The Yonder Surf Academy CIC was set up purely to be able to offer lessons, coaching and courses to women and girls in the community who might not otherwise have the opportunity. Accessing the ocean and surfing can have many barriers and Yonder Surf Academy wanted to remove the financial barrier whilst working hard on all other aspects to create a welcoming and open space for our participants.
  • BETTER Leisure Centres, sports facilities, pools and gyms across England and Wales are supporting refugees resettling in England and Wales with a free Better Health Centre (Off-Peak) membership for a fixed six-month period. The scheme is open to all refugees who have been granted refugee resettlement status in the last 12 months by the UK Government. More information here: https://www.better.org.uk/news/supported-memberships 
  • Middle East Archive released a new photography book which is a showcase of football culture in the Middle East and North Africa. The publication is motivated by a love of the game and a desire to showcase an underrepresented football culture in the MENA region. The book includes photographs taken between late 1980s up to 2023, in Morocco, Algeria, Iraq, Tunisia, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, Oman, Yemen, UAE, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kurdistan, and other countries in the region.
  • The Leeds Refugee Forum is hosting the “Refugee World Cup” – two 7 a side football tournaments (one all gender, the other for women and non binary only) on 22nd June 2024. If you’d like to take part, please contact info@leedsrefugeeforum.org.uk to register your team before the 31st May.

Do you know of events, projects and individuals that fit the Simple Act of ‘Get Active’? Share them with us on social media by tagging us @refugeeweekuk #SimpleActs #OurHome #RefugeeWeek. 

Let’s get active and use our spaces to move towards a more inclusive and connected world.