On Thursday 18th June 2026, we were proud to celebrate Richmond Refugee Week with our “It Takes Courage” Poetry Workshop, bringing together learners to explore courage, creativity, and self-expression through poetry.
We were delighted to welcome The Worshipful the Mayor of Richmond upon Thames, Councillor Nancy Baldwin, alongside Councillor Fiona Sacks, Councillor for Barnes Ward, Borough of Sanctuary Champion, and the Mayor’s Consort. Their kindness and genuine interest in our learners made the day even more special. It meant a great deal to participants to have their stories and achievements recognised.
During her visit, Madam Mayor brought posters promoting Richmond Council’s Refugee Week Celebration Event at York House and warmly encouraged our learners to attend the evening’s celebrations.
A huge thank you to Richmond Council for funding this project and making the workshop possible. Their support helped us create a safe and welcoming space where learners could connect, learn, and build confidence.
Throughout the day, learners shared ideas about what courage means to them and created their own poems. Many reflected on the courage it takes to start a new life, learn a new language, make friends, and overcome challenges. The poetry shared was thoughtful, moving, and inspiring.
One learner wrote a powerful poem about courage, demonstrating how poetry can connect people across cultures and experiences:
Living requires courage,
Existing requires creativity.
This world is both very fun and very dangerous.
To live, one must be brave.
We must overcome fear.
Those who are afraid of making mistakes
Cannot gain a unifying force in life.
As part of the celebration, every learner received a Poet in Progress Certificate and a Courage Mug, handcrafted by the husband of one of our volunteers. These gifts recognised learners’ creativity and served as a reminder of the strength and courage they showed by sharing their ideas and experiences.
A special thank you goes to our wonderful volunteers, Robyn and Cynthia, who planned and led the workshop. Their encouragement, creativity, and support helped learners feel confident to take part and share their voices through poetry. Their contribution was central to the success of the day.
We would also like to thank Raana and Lana for supporting learners who brought their children. They created a safe and welcoming space where the children felt happy and cared for, allowing parents to fully participate in the workshop. Their support helped create a warm and inclusive atmosphere for everyone.
The day ended with learners proudly sharing their work and celebrating one another’s achievements. It was a wonderful reminder that courage comes in many forms and that every story deserves to be heard.
Later that evening, we hosted a stall at Richmond’s Refugee Week Celebration Event at York House in Twickenham, alongside many other organisations taking part in the borough-wide programme of activities. The event provided a fantastic opportunity to engage with members of the local community, partner organisations, and supporters while celebrating the contributions of refugees and people seeking sanctuary in Richmond.
Delicious food and vibrant performances brought colour, energy, and a wonderful sense of celebration to the evening.
We are grateful to the Richmond Borough of Sanctuary team for organising such a welcoming event and for providing us with the opportunity to participate.
A special thank you to our volunteers Audri and Dan for representing us at the event, alongside Bryony, one of our Fundraising Managers. We would also like to thank Cynthia, who facilitated the poetry workshop and then joined the evening celebration, helping to staff the LEAH stall and engage with visitors throughout the event.
Thank you to everyone who helped make Richmond Refugee Week such a positive and memorable celebration of courage, compassion, creativity, and community.
