We cannot walk alone

To mark Refugee Week 2021 Wandsworth Welcomes Refugees is delighted to be holding Walks of Sanctuary. Earlsfield: Wednesday, 16th June, 10:30am - 12:30pm

Wandsworth: Saturday, 19th June, 2-4pm

These informal walks will be an opportunity to check out historical and current sites relevant to those seeking asylum and to share conversations and ideas about building sanctuary in our Wandsworth community. We’d love to see you there.

Interested in joining us? Send us an email to let us know. The walks will be COVID-19 safe and we might need to limit numbers.

Earlsfield: Wednesday, 16th June, 10:30am - 12:30pm

We'll explore parts of Earlsfield, walking and talking about support for refugees and places of Sanctuary. Come and wander along the Wandle, think about whether a workhouse was a sanctuary or a penalty, find sights where travellers gathered and lived, and learn about how much figures from the past helped or hindered those in need of refuge.

We'll end with refreshments in the garden at St Andrew's welcoming church where the Home Community Cafe has a vibrant cafe and community space. The Cafe is a great supporter of Care4Calais and the local Just Shelter.

Wandsworth: Saturday, 19th June, 2-4pm

We'll leave Wandsworth Common to walk through the Royal Victoria Patriotic Building. Built for girl orphans of the Crimean War, the tough regime was not entirely a Sanctuary. After WW2 refugees from Europe were interviewed here before getting British residence. We'll see the Huguenot cemetery, a resting place for those fleeing France to seek religious freedom. From there we go on to check the iconic frieze on Wandsworth Town Hall and reflect on the difficulties for refugees who need citizenship.

The walk will end with light snacks and music at St Anne's Church, which offers help and welcome to anyone in the parish.