Cambridge City Council is marking Refugee Week 2026 (15-21 June) with a series of community events, including a major performance at the Cambridge Corn Exchange led by renowned poet Michael Rosen.

This year’s Refugee Week theme, ‘Courage’, highlights the strength and resilience of people seeking sanctuary. Cambridge City Council is supporting a programme of activity that celebrates creativity, community, and the contributions of refugees.

Cambridge City Council has committed to being a City of Sanctuary since 2015 and works to create a welcoming environment for people who have been forced to flee their homes.

A centrepiece of this year’s programme is the ‘Voices of Hope and Compassion’ concert on Sunday 28 June (4pm), a free, unticketed event bringing together schools and community groups for a powerful programme of music, poetry, readings, drama and dance, inspired by stories of displacement, resilience and hope.

The event is organised by HistoryWorks, in collaboration with Michael Rosen, who will perform work from his acclaimed collection On the Move, alongside newly commissioned poems Home and Freedom Has No Warning Lights.

Over the past year, thousands of young people across Cambridge have taken part in workshops and assemblies led by Michael Rosen and Helen Weinstein. These sessions have explored:

• Forced migration due to war, climate change and persecution
• The trauma of displacement and rebuilding lives
• Compassion, kindness and shared humanity

Students will share their own original poems, songs and performances, showcasing creative responses developed through the programme.

Residents can also attend the Refugee Week Community Fair on Saturday 20 June (11am to 3pm) at Cambridge Central Library, which will highlight local support services and community initiatives. Organisations supporting people from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Hong Kong and beyond will be present, including Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum and University of Cambridge.

Both events are free to attend and aim to bring communities together to celebrate diversity, share experiences and promote understanding.

Supporting local communities

Cambridge City Council supports refugee families to establish their lives in the city, including help to access education and employment.

The city would not be the welcoming place it is without the strong support of our residents, local communities and voluntary organisations.

Cambridge City Council continues to support groups and charities working with people seeking sanctuary through grant funding and partnerships.

Funded projects include:

• Creative workshops delivered by Cambridge Arts Theatre and Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination, helping young people learning English to build confidence through drama
• Ukrainian Women’s Integration Support and Empowerment (UWISE), providing mentoring and career support
• Baca, a charity supporting unaccompanied young people with trauma recovery and education