Refugee Week 2025: Celebrating Community as a Super Power

On Monday 17 June, we kicked off the week in Birmingham with the reveal of a beautiful community-made painting. Created by ACH clients and partners, the piece embodies this year’s theme through a striking tree artwork - one strong trunk supporting branches of hands, multi-coloured leaves and flowers representing diversity, unity and growth. The unveiling, led by Christy Kalu and Lizwe Chigama of ACH and Lucy Clark from Birmingham City Council was a moving moment of pride. The artwork now sits proudly in one of our office rooms as a lasting symbol of what it means to function as a community.

On Wednesday 19 June, in the spirit of learning and fun, we hosted a language exchange and quiz event celebrating the wide range of cultures in our community, from Eritrea and Somalia to Egypt and the UK. Attendees laughed, learned, and even won prizes, all while enjoying tea and snacks. Later that day, we joined RMC’s Refugee Week event alongside fellow organisations and supporters. The presence of the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Zafar Iqbal MBE, made the occasion even more memorable. Major thanks to RMC for inviting us

On Thursday 20 June, we can safely say sunshine, sport and solidarity came together as our teams in Birmingham and Wolverhampton took to the pitch for a friendly match with Aston Villa Foundation through their ‘Active Through Football’ initiative. The game reminded us once again that football is more than a sport, it is a tool and a universal language that fosters joy, teamwork, community and belonging. Huge thanks to AVF for helping make this happen.

On Friday 21 June, it was film and wellness day. Our Wolverhampton team offered something truly special - a day trip out of wolverhampton and a spa and wellness day for women in our community. There was massage therapy, shared food, warm conversations and space to breathe. Many described it as “the best day of the summer yet,” using the time to reflect on where they’ve come from and where they’re headed next.

Following that, our Birmingham community gathered for a screening of Fremont, a film that tells a refugee’s story with grace, humour and honesty. It was a gentle yet powerful way to reflect on the resilience and humanity within so many untold journeys.

On Saturday 21 June, we hosted a lively market fair at Coventry Cathedral, in partnership with Coventry City Council, where migrant-led businesses showcased their products to over 500 visitors. It was a day of enterprise, visibility and real connection. For some of our clients, it wasn’t just a stall, it was a new contact, a sale, a smile. And that’s what Refugee Week is all about.

We also held the “Touch of Unity” session in Bristol and participants decorated tote bags, contributed to a collaborative artwork, and spent time in quiet expression. It was a calm and joyful space where art brought people together, no matter their language or background.

On Sunday 22 June, we closed the week on a high at the Bristol Refugee Festival’s Celebrating Sanctuary event. We proudly supported 20 refugee and migrant entrepreneurs sharing their food, crafts and culture with the wider Bristol public. It was a joyful day of community and celebration.

Even before the week began, our Wolverhampton clients were already in the spirit taking on new heights (literally!) with a rock-climbing session that brought adventure, confidence and fun. The perfect warm-up to an inspiring month. And throughout June, our message reached new heights - literally. With support from JCDecaux’s Community Channel, we launched a digital billboard campaign across Birmingham bearing the message: “Birmingham Thrives When We All Belong.” In a time when conversations around migration are often polarising, this campaign offered a hopeful, people-centred counter-narrative. One that reflects who we are and the inclusive future we are helping to shape.

A Word from Our CEO

Reflecting on this year’s Refugee Week theme “Community is Our Superpower”, our CEO Fuad Mahamed shared what it really means for community to serve as a superpower.:

“Looking at the outcome of the events, I realised these are all part of it. Little moments of coming together, sharing knowledge, encouraging one another or just pausing to breathe and rethink. The kind we need more of, long after the campaign banners come down.”

Once again, Refugee Week 2025 has showed just how much can happen when we come together as a community. Thank you to everyone who participated, supported, and showed up. Join us in continuing this work and holding space for community, far beyond one week. If you are interested in any joint initiative with us, please email us at marketing@ach.org.uk