As Refugee Week approaches, trustees of the MigrationWork Trust are pleased to be offering a number of small top-up grants to community organisations we have previously supported through our Weaving Bonds small grants scheme.
This year, we provided small contributions to Sewing Together, Maokwo, Laamiga, Nam Yang, Creating Ground CIC, DOST and Tadamon to support activities connected to Refugee Week and A Million Acts of Hope.
These grants are intentionally small and flexible. We know many grassroots groups provide vital spaces of connection, creativity, practical support and belonging for migrants, refugees and local communities in an incredibly difficult funding environment.
Over the past few weeks, it has been great to hear more about the activities these groups are organising. They include workshops exploring how refugee and migrant women can engage confidently with artificial intelligence and digital technologies; arts exhibitions and collective creative projects centred on identity, belonging and community; wellbeing and reflection spaces exploring the theme of this year’s Refugee Week – courage; and youth, sports and community activities creating welcoming spaces for people newly arriving in the UK.
Some organisations are also using the funding to strengthen longer-term community infrastructure, supporting volunteers into paid roles, expanding casework support, improving community spaces and developing new programmes shaped directly through community consultation.
At a time when public conversations around migration can often feel hostile or divisive, Refugee Week is such an important opportunity to celebrate community, creativity, resilience and connection. We are proud to stand alongside the groups doing this work every day, often quietly and with very little recognition.
We wish all our partners, colleagues and communities a meaningful and joyful Refugee Week when it comes.
