Refugee Week Celebrates Courage Across Hastings & Bexhill
Refugee Week 2026 takes place from 15 to 21 June, bringing communities together across Hastings, Rother, and Wealden under this year’s national theme: Courage
Refugee Week 2026 will spotlight the everyday acts of courage that shape our communities: from sharing a meal to telling a story, from offering welcome to celebrating cultural traditions. Through food, art, language, gathering, and collaboration, the programme seeks to nurture a kinder, more inclusive society.
Hands of Hope
In Hastings, events start on Saturday 13 June with Hands of Hope – a huge public display of community and welcome. From the RNLI at The Stade to the Dove Café in West St Leonards, Hastings beach will turn into a living patchwork quilt. At 6pm, an unbroken line of people will join hands, and everyone is invited. Wear orange, the colour of courage and gather at 5.30pm. If you can, bring banners and flags but mainly bring yourself and stand together.
More information at hastings.cityofsanctuary.org/events/hands-of-hope
Food Festival and Events
The Refugee Buddy Project is bringing the programme together through the Safe Havens network, with local partners running events from 15 to 21 June. It’s a community-led week that shows the warmth, creativity, and generosity that make this region such a welcoming place for people seeking sanctuary.
This will be a celebration of food and the stories that come with it, with events happening in venues across Hastings, Rother, and Wealden. Safe Havens members and partner venues will be involved in all sorts of ways, whether that’s running cooking demos or tastings, sharing recipes, serving cultural dishes in cafés, community halls, or outdoor spaces, bringing people together over shared meals, or adding a special ‘Recipe of Courage’ to the menu during Refugee Week.
“This year’s theme of Courage reminds us that bravery lives in everyday acts of welcome, kindness, and solidarity. Our community has stepped forward with creativity and heart, showing that powerful things can happen when people come together with a shared purpose.”
Rossana Leal, CEO The Refugee Buddy Project
Words and Stories of Courage
A series of storytelling and creative events will be held in galleries, libraries, community centres, cafés, outdoor spaces, and other locations throughout the week.
Venues and individuals will host storytelling sessions, spoken word and poetry performances and music and exhibitions inspired by journeys of resilience and exploring lived experiences of courage.
Look out for the map and listings of participating venues and events.
More information at therefugeebuddyproject.org.uk
Sanctuary Festival
To close the week, on Sunday 21 June, 12-6pm, all eyes turn to Hastings Museum & Art Gallery for Sanctuary Festival: a joyful day of music, stories, workshops, talks, food, friends and more. Bringing together artists, musicians and communities from around Hastings and around the world, to celebrate creativity and culture, spread hope and honour courage.
Organised by local charity Hastings Community of Sanctuary and funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, the festival is free to attend and open to all.
“At a time when some seek to divide and blame, Refugee Week 2026 calls us to come together and demonstrate that kindness and compassion make our community stronger. We invite you to be joyful, be curious, share, learn and connect.”
Polly Gifford, Festival Director and Co-Chair, Hastings Community of Sanctuary More information at hastings.cityofsanctuary.org/sanctuary-festival
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article. The future of our volunteer led, non-profit publication would be far more secure with the aid of a small donation. You can also support local journalism by becoming a friend of HIP. It only takes a minute and we would be very grateful.
Leave a Reply