Celebrating Refugee Week Through Connection, Confidence and Community
As Refugee Week is celebrated across the UK, YMCA Taunton was delighted to welcome a group of young people from CHARIS Refugees for an afternoon of activities and friendship.
The visit gave the teenagers the opportunity to enjoy a range of activities across our centre, including climbing, pickleball, pool and table football. Throughout the session, the young people embraced new challenges, supported one another and enjoyed spending time together in a welcoming environment.
Refugee Week is the world’s largest arts and culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. This year’s theme highlights the importance of community and the positive impact we can have when people come together.
At YMCA Taunton, we believe that everyone should have access to opportunities that help them feel connected, valued and included. Sport and recreation can play an important role in breaking down barriers, building confidence and creating friendships that transcend backgrounds and experiences.
The visit from CHARIS Refugees was a wonderful example of this in action. Whether tackling the climbing wall, learning the rules of pickleball or enjoying a friendly game of pool, the young people demonstrated enthusiasm, teamwork and a willingness to try something new.
One of the things we value most at YMCA Taunton is creating spaces where people feel welcome and able to be themselves. It was fantastic to see the young people from CHARIS Refugees enjoying our facilities, encouraging each other and making the most of the opportunities available. We are proud to support Refugee Week and celebrate the positive impact that community connection can have.
Clare Langley, CEO
Thank you
We would like to thank Charis Refugees for partnering with us and for the important work they do supporting refugees and people seeking sanctuary across Somerset.
We hope this is the first of many opportunities to work together and look forward to welcoming the group back to YMCA Taunton in the future.
To find out more about Charis Refugees and their work, visit www.charisrefugees.org.
The visit was made possible through funding from Taunton Town Council. Their support enabled YMCA Taunton and Charis Refugees to work together to provide a positive experience for the young people involved, helping them build confidence, make connections and enjoy new opportunities within the local community.
