We set up on Milsom Street for the Bath Christmas Market on 28 November and had a brilliant day of raising funds, awareness and meeting people who were interested in the work we do 

As well as our legendary pompoms, we were selling
1. Beautiful and tasty hand decorated biscuits from a Ukrainian friend
2. Hand knitted festive decorations 
3. Glittering handmade glass stars
4. Ludmilla’s children designs for edible decorations that they can paint themselves! 
5. Card designs by @ritalazaroart and Kurda Yar

We’ve managed to organise a last minute Christmas Fayre on Sunday 8 December 10am–11.30am, thanks to our friends at The Locksbrook Inn on Locksbrook Road (Bath, BA1 3EN).

There’ll be lots of stalls to browse, admire and shop – including a homemade cake stall, Christmas crafts, a children’s book stall and delicious refreshments.

We’d love for you to join us.

But we also need your help with the tombola please! We are looking for donations for lovely tombola prizes such as new toiletries, bottles of drink, boxes of chocolate, tins of biscuits, new toys etc.

Please contact Amanda on 07805 459760 or email fundraising at bathwelcomesrefugees.org.uk.

Bath Welcomes Refugees hosted the second Beyond Bath event: Understanding the Venezuelan Refugee and Migrant Crisis.

Bath Welcomes Refugees (BWR) recently hosted its second Beyond Bath event at the Good Living Centre of St John’s Foundation on 31 October.

The focus was on understanding the Venezuelan refugee and migrant crisis, caused not by war, but by political and economic collapse, which has forced over 7 million Venezuelans to seek refuge beyond their borders.

Over 15 people came together for an evening dedicated to raising awareness of the Venezuelan migration crisis and encouraging local action to support refugees and migrants.

Panellists included international development specialist Adriana Pepe, human rights defender and lawyer Alfredo Félix, researcher and lawyer Alejandro Álvarez, and Beyond Bath facilitator Andrea Dos Anjos. Together, they shared their perspectives on one of the world’s largest mass migrations in history, caused not by war, but by political and economic collapse, which has forced over 7 million Venezuelans to seek refuge and new opportunities beyond their borders.

The Venezuelan refugee crisis has transformed the region, with over 5 million Venezuelans now living in 17 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean. Many migrants are travelling on foot with only a few personal belongings, facing uncertainty and often leaving families, communities and loved ones behind. Others are moving to reunite with them.

The panellists shared authentic stories as Venezuelans who have been affected by the crisis. Alfredo Félix discussed the origins of the crisis and its devastating impact on everyday life. Alejandro Álvarez presented his work on the vulnerabilities faced by Venezuelan migrants, including exploitation and modern slavery. Adriana Pepe detailed the main challenges faced both in Venezuela -such as corruption and lack of basic services- and outside the country where migrants navigate complex paperwork, housing, employment difficulties, and the cultural adaptation needed to settle into host countries. Together, the panellists reflected on possible future scenarios for Venezuela, expressing hope for a brighter, more stable future for their home. 

The audience engaged in a lively discussion on steps that local communities can take to support migrants and refugees, exploring ways to create a more welcoming and inclusive society. 

Looking ahead, we’re excited to announce the next Beyond Bath Talk, which will take place on Thursday 16 January and can be booked on Eventbrite http://bit.ly/3AJ2j62 

We look forward to another opportunity to shape the narrative of migration.

Some useful resources about the Venezuelan situation:

• Report of the independent international fact-finding mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela* (Advance unedited version) (A/HRC/57/57) – Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) | ReliefWeb
• Venezuela crisis: Facts, FAQs, and how to help | World Vision
• The road to modern slavery from vulnerability to exploitation

Three local girls raised almost £400 (and counting!) for Bath Welcomes Refugees after learning about refugees at school.

And not only did Rosie, Ivy, Faye and Sophia achieve the magnificent feat of walking to the top of Kelston Round Hill on Sunday 3 November, but they did so with the added challenge of having their legs tied together!

They wanted to raise money for Bath Welcomes Refugees after learning about refugees at school and have managed to raise an impressive £378.75 so far! (Update: over £570 now)

And there’s still time to donate bit.ly/4eiHSuc

Girls, we salute you! Thank you!

Bath Welcomes Refugees is delighted to announce the winner of the recent fundraising raffle with enormous thanks to artist Alce Harfield for the donation of her absolutely beautiful depiction of Elton John singing Rocketman at Glastonbury’s Pyramid stage in 2023, marking his final ever UK show as part of his epic Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour.

Scooping the prize was Ed Allchorne, pictured here with the oil painting, who says, “My wife and I are delighted to have won this beautiful representation of Rocketman at Glastonbury. It pays homage to such a diverse range of identities and cultures. We were proud to have supported Bath Welcomes Refugees, and will continue to do so in the future.”

Artist Alce adds, “It is a pleasure to continue to support Bath Welcomes Refugees. As someone who lives in rural Somerset who has neighbours who are refugees from Ukraine (a mother and her two small girls, who continue to be separated from their father and wider family by war) it is important to us at The Bath Art Fair to reach out in any way we can. Donating this painting of Glastonbury Festival is just a small way I can help those who are displaced by conflict, and continues the ethos of the festival.”

The volunteer-led charity Bath Welcomes Refugees would like to thank everyone who entered the raffle, which raised nearly £2,000 and goes towards supporting refugees and asylum seekers to help them feel welcome, supported, and hopeful for the future in their new Bath community.

Look out for next year’s return of the Bath Art Fair, which is organised by Alce Harfield, Friday 21 February – Sunday 23 February at the Bath Pavilion. 

A date for your diary! The Bath Welcomes Refugees jumble sale is happening Saturday 7 December.

The location is St Andrew’s Community Centre, Combe Down, and the time 11.30am–12.30pm.

For more info or to donate items, please email [email protected]
or call Amanda on 07805 459670.

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 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. 

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.

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.”