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Berneslai Homes celebrate Refugee Week
Berneslai Homes last week (14 to 20 June 2010) took part in Refugee Week and to help raise awareness of Refugees in the UK and to raise money for charity.
Refugee Week celebrates the contributions refugees bring to the UK and many events take place across the UK, all of which explore refugee experiences. Berneslai Homes supported an event in Mandela Gardens on Saturday 19 June. The event was organised by Barnsley Black and Ethnic Minority Initiative (BBEMI) and MARCO (Migrant, Asylum, Refugee Community Organisation) with support from the Council and many other Barnsley organisations. Opened by the Mayoress Councillor Margaret Sheard, and consort, Tom Sheard, the event was colourful and fun with singing, dancing, music, face painting, displays by South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, and lots of people doing ‘Simple Acts’.
Simple Acts is a campaign organised for Refugee Week and it’s about inspiring individuals to use small, everyday actions to change perceptions of refugees. Berneslai Homes ran the Simple Acts campaign in their workplace all last week, asking staff to do simple acts and give 20 pence for each one they did. The funds raised have gone to help unaccompanied children who arrive in Barnsley destitute, alone and afraid.
Diane Weston, Equality Manager said “It’s great that staff were able to take part in the Simple Acts campaign. There are so many myths about Asylum Seekers and Refugees and we were able to learn the real and very moving stories of people who have come though hard times to make Barnsley their home.”
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