SIMULTANEOUS Christmas parties took place across the country on Friday last week, with a Reading town centre church hosting one of them – and one of the organisers say they were a sweet end to the year.
In all, 40 locations held the festive gatherings organised by local partners to Sanctuary Foundation, a charity set up to help refugees and asylum seekers feel more welcome. It came at the start of this year’s International Migration Week.
The Reading event was held at Greyfriars Church, which is home to the Greyfriars Sanctuary Ministry, working with Refugee Support Group.
Guests were able to enjoy festive food as part of a bring and share meal, craft parties, games, drama and learn more about what makes a UK Christmas. There were entertainments for children and gifts handed out as well.
Among those attending was Dr Krish Kandiah, founder and director of Sanctuary Foundation.
“It was a beautiful time, there were over 100 there from lots of different nations, including Iran, Ukraine, Sudan and Eritera,” he said.
One of his motives for setting up the Foundation stemmed from his childhood, growing up in Brighton.
“As one of the ‘brownish’ children in my school I felt like a bit of an outsider. It was when I got invited to birthday and Christmas parties that I knew I belonged,” he explained. “For many reasons, many new arrivals to the UK have been feeling a little bit unwelcome recently. We wanted to flip that on its head and say if you are invited to a party that means you are welcome.
“We were able to encourage them by giving them some goodies, with lots of donations from businesses like KP, McVities and Tetley. Everybody got a goodie bag and another little taste of welcome, support and humanity.
“The parties are a bit like the cherry on the top of the cake and a sweet end to the year.”
The Foundation and its partners, including the Refugee Support Group, aim to help people connect with fellow displaced people, while also building bridges with the communities they have moved into.
“These two things together really help people to integrate, feel at home and able to recover from some of their trauma,” Dr Kandiah said. “That’s what these groups are doing around the country, from coffee drop-ins, lunches, language classes and Christmas parties.”
And Dr Kandiah is grateful for the work of these partners.
“What we are able to do with Sanctuary Foundation is represent all the things they experience to the government. We can say this is what is happening on the ground, here is what we can do, here are positive solutions.
“We’ve got issues around housing, around vias and here is what we can do at a national level.
“The local groups are absolutely key and they need credit for all the fantastic work they are doing day by day, week by week.”
To help people understand some of the issues faced by migrants, the Foundation has produced a new animation.
Dr Kandiah said: “It celebrates the Christmas story, and this whole conversation about migration and asylum. Check it out on our website – it will be a moving part of your Christmas experience.”
For more details, or to see the animation, log on to: https://sanctuaryfoundation.org.uk/
