CommUnity is Strong in Southmead: Celebrating Refugees

It was wonderful to be back at The Ranch Adventure Playground & Youth Space for our fifth Southmead Bristol Refugee Festival event. Our first one took place back in 2021 and although limited by social distancing, it was a great event and the response from the community made us determined to make it a regular thing. Since then, in partnership with Bristol Refugee Festival, we have celebrated every year,  but this was the best one yet.

The theme this year was CommUnity as a Superpower, and the feeling of unity was clear.  The band, Helele, got everyone dancing and made us all feel part of something special.  Eric said, “I had my eyes closed and I felt like I was on the beach somewhere tropical listening to that instrument [the Balafon]”.

Residents in Southmead with lived experience of being a refugee or asylum seeker helped to plan the day.  This made it a rich celebration where we could all learn with, and from, newer Southmead residents, as well as making everyone feel welcome in our community.

There was mouth-watering food shared by our local Sudanese and Senegalese residents – Senegalese street food called Fataya, Sudanese Samosas, Falafel, and chicken curry with rice, followed by ice-pops. The pops are a traditional after-meal palate cleanser made of Baobab fruit and Hibiscus flowers – African health superfoods.  They were a big hit, especially in the sunshine!  Erica said, “That Hibiscus lolly was one of the highlights of my day. And it was good for me!”.

A Henna workshop, led by Maherush from ACH, gave everyone the chance to make some beautiful art and learn about a tradition that is important in many cultures. There was also banner making, games, and a chance to share stories.

Thank you to everyone who helped to make the day amazing including the performers, the volunteers, and all who came along. Southmead showed once again that it is a fantastic place of welcome and inclusion.

If you would like to know more about welcome events in Southmead, or to join in with local inclusion and equality events, please contact me, email: lucillesmith@southmead.org, tel: 0117 950 3335.