Southampton takes part in Refugee Week – Monday 16 June 2025

Celebrating the contributions and resilience of those seeking sanctuary

Southampton City Council joins many other organisations in the city on Monday 16 June to mark 'Refugee Week'. The community-led arts and culture festival celebrates the contributions and resilience of those seeking sanctuary, and this year is themed ‘Community as a Superpower’.

As a city we embrace our diversity. Our communities have become home to individuals and families that have sought refuge from around the world. 'Refugee Week' presents the perfect opportunity to recognise those individuals who have been granted the protection of the state.

Not every child or young person seeking refuge travels with a family member. Younger children travelling alone to the UK need the support of foster carers, whilst older teenagers benefit from living with our Post-16 Accommodation 'hosts'. With the support of carers, these children and young people can feel safe to live and grow.

One foster carer shared their experience of fostering unaccompanied asylum seekers (UASC). They said “I have looked after about 15 UASC children and young people for 10 years now. I support them with their health, schooling, asylum claims, cooking and buying food, showing them where to go to a place of worship and teaching them the rules of living in Britain. I have looked after young people from Afghanistan, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Sudan and Africa. Fostering has made my life fulfilled and even though I’m now 75 years old, I am not retiring yet as they keep me young!

"In total, as I write this, I do not know the exact number of children whose life journey has entwined with mine and my family, but at a guess I have fostered approximately 200 children over 30 years, many of whom have gone on to marry and have their own children, some still keep in touch with me!”

Councillor Alex Winning, Cabinet Member for Children and Learning said: "Southampton has always been home to a wide range of cultures and ethnicities with people moving here from within the UK and internationally. We have embraced every nationality and culture and believe that every child or young person should have a good start in life, live safely, enjoy good health, access to learning and the chance to achieve their goals. I’m proud that our communities are home to people that have found sanctuary in our City and Refugee Week is a great to remember that. Our foster carers and Post-16 Accommodation 'hosts' who open their homes to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people are incredible. They may be the first ones to provide a home-cooked meal or sense of normality in a long time."

Southampton City Council is looking for more foster carers and Post-16 Accommodation 'hosts' to support unaccompanied asylum-seekers. We also welcome enquiries from individuals or families who are refugees; your experience will help children and young people to adjust to life in the UK. If you would like to know more, please visit Shared Care.

This Refugee Week everyone is invited to spend time with friends and meet their neighbours to help build new connections. On Saturday 21 June, there are several events taking place around the city including: 

• A celebration of dancing, music and school artwork, Above Bar (11:30am)
• A carnival parade, Above Bar to Palmerston Park (12:30pm)
• A community picnic with free entertainment, music, dancing and games with food stalls to buy food from or you can bring your own picnic, Palmerston Park (1pm-5pm)

Southampton is a City of Sanctuary. We embrace a culture of welcoming, safety, and inclusion for people seeking asylum or refuge, especially those escaping from violence and persecution.