Chester Cathedral marks Refugee Week with panel discussion
The latest panel discussion at Chester Cathedral will focus on stories from refugees who have found sanctuary in and around Chester.
'Conversations with Refugees: Reclaiming the Narrative' will take place at the cathedral on Thursday 19 June.
The discussion will hear from those who have sought refuge and those who have offered a safe place to live - as part of a nationwide Refugee Week.
The panel includes Cheshire West and Chester Council's director of economy and housing, Gemma Davies, alongside Muhumuza Mutuze and Fatouma Sanyang, from the North West Regional Strategic Migration Partnership.
Among other panelists will be Ukrainian refugees and local people who offered them sanctuary. Gemma will put people's stories into the context of the council's strategy.
Chester became a City of Sanctuary in 2018, Chester Cathedral a Cathedral of Sanctuary in 2023 and Cheshire West and Chester Council was awarded Council of Sanctuary accreditation earlier this year.
Senior lecturer in Theology at Liverpool Hope University, Father Taras is involved in pastoral care of the Ukrainian, Greek-Catholic communities in Liverpool, Stoke-on-Trent and Belfast.
Since the beginning of Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he has been working with displaced Ukrainians in Merseyside and beyond.
Muhumuza and Fatouma work with vulnerable children across the region, to help support positive local responses to migration - focusing particularly on those in local authority care.
Dean of Chester, Dr Tim Stratford, said: "Everyone is welcome to Chester Cathedral.
"We are delighted that members of our congregation who have sought sanctuary and those who have offered it will get a chance to talk about their experiences during the evening.
"It really is time to reclaim the narrative where refugees are concerned and to take control of how we all tell our stories – to celebrate culture, history and contribution."
The Assemble event begins at 6.45pm with refreshments available from 6.15pm. Free tickets are available from the Chester Cathedral website here.
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