Lichfield Refugee Aid

04/06/2026

It's our 2nd anniversary of being hosted by The Hub at St Mary's 😃
Please feel free to pop in this morning!

02/06/2026

This is a lovely initiative in the Derby area ❤️

Have you heard of refugee lodgings?

You could earn tax-free rental income as a live-in landlord by hosting a refugee lodger as they rebuild their lives.

Many refugees are currently facing homelessness, or are at severe risk of it. Your spare room could be someone's safe haven as they get back on their feet and rebuild their life.

Interesting in finding out more about refugee lodgings? Read more and chat to a member of our hosting team today: www.upbeatcommunities.org/hosting

26/05/2026

Eid-al-Adha - wishing Eid Mubarak to our friends and to all who celebrate ❤️

22/05/2026

19/05/2026

❤️

It was a pleasure to meet Mohammed, a Palestinian student who has taken up a university place in Bristol after I helped fight to secure his safe travel to the UK. He is studying Earthquake Engineering and Infrastructure Resilience, and hopes to use it when he returns to Gaza to rebuild his community.

Last year, the government promised that students from Palestine with scholarships for UK universities would receive help to come to study here. But many were blocked from travelling to the UK due to the difficulties of applying for a visa within Gaza.

My team and I worked hard to support these students to take up their places, writing to the Prime Minister and Home Secretary, working with the University of Bristol to extend deadlines, and advocating for their cases with the Home Office.

I’m so pleased that these students are now studying in the city, but also really worried about the next cohort.

The government made a one-off exception to provide help last year, but we need to make sure that there is a plan in place for students coming to study at UK universities this September.

18/05/2026

International Museum Day 2026: Museums Uniting a Divided World

On 18 May 2026, museums worldwide will mark International Museum Day under the theme “Museums Uniting a Divided World”. The theme highlights the potential of museums to act as bridges across cultural, social, and geopolitical divides, fostering dialogue, understanding, inclusion and peace within and between communities worldwide

Each year since 1977, ICOM has organised International Museum Day, which represents a unique moment for the international museum community.

17/05/2026

❤️☕😊

HOPE WEEK TAKEOVER ✨

Today we’re celebrating Lichfield Refugee Aid - a group that started simply with people meeting in each other’s homes to practise English through relaxed conversation and friendship.

Since moving to The Hub nearly two years ago, it’s grown into a brilliant community of people from all over the world, with different languages, backgrounds and stories, all supporting one another. Alongside language practice, the group also helps with things like paperwork, settling in and navigating everyday life - but just as importantly, it creates connection. 💛

Yesterday’s guests of honour were Weronika - who has been volunteering at The Hub while practising her English - and her mum, who she recently brought over from Ukraine. We were all so pleased to finally meet her.

Sometimes hope looks like a conversation over coffee. Sometimes it’s helping someone feel at home. Sometimes it’s simply making space for people to find friendship and community.

17/05/2026

Fantastic work continues to be done by Derbyshire Refugee Solidarity
❤️

13/05/2026

26/11/2025

A screenshot of what we were up to 10 years ago - TEN YEARS!
I just realised that we've hit an amazing anniversary. ❤️
Lots of ups and downs, mostly ups, meeting lovely people, and especially our wonderful Lichfield families who came as refugees over the years, or as visitors, or as something in-between. Some have truly become dear friends. I hope we have helped to smooth the way in traumatic times, and extended a warm welcome to all.
A big THANK YOU to all the wonderful collaborations we've enjoyed along the way ❤️