Derby Refugee Week events run across the city from 15 June
Refugee Week 2026 begins in Derby on Monday 15 June, with events running across the city until Sunday 21 June.
The programme is aimed at the general public and includes cultural events, a creative workshop, a community BBQ and a parkrun gathering. Venues named in Derby City Council’s notice include Derby Market Hall, Derby Refugee Forum, Susanna Wesley House and Markeaton Park.
Price information has not been specified in the council notice. Derby City Council says the full programme is available through the Derby City of Sanctuary page.
Derby events marking Refugee Week
This year’s Refugee Week theme is “courage”, with Derby’s programme built around welcome, community stories and the contributions of people who have made the city their home after fleeing conflict and violence.
The week is also being used to reflect on Derby’s longer history as a place of refuge. During the Spanish Civil War, 50 children came to Derby and lived at Burnaston House between 1937 and 1938 as part of a national effort to protect children from war.
Derby also became a temporary home for around 270 Belgian refugees during the Second World War, with many later making the city their permanent home.
Ukrainian refugees are described by the council as one of the earliest refugee groups in the city. The Association of Ukrainians in Derby branch was formally established on 10 November 1947, later creating a permanent base on Charnwood Street and continuing its work in culture, arts, heritage and multi-cultural understanding.
Nearly 50 years later, people fleeing conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina arrived in Derby. In 1995, refugees established the Derby Bosnia-Herzegovina Community Association to support families rebuilding their lives in the UK, including with education, housing, training and wider community support.
Programme highlights and times
| Event | Date, time and location |
|---|---|
| Steps Towards Tomorrow Workshop | Tuesday 16 June, Derby Refugee Forum. A three-hour creative workshop making functional footwear from upcycled materials. |
| BBQ at Susanna Wesley House | Friday 19 June, 10am to 3pm. Marking 10 years of the organisation with dancing and cake. |
| Hello Derby – A Festival of Welcome | Saturday 20 June, 11am to 3pm, Derby Market Hall. |
| Parkrun with Refugees | Saturday 20 June, from 8:45am, Markeaton Park. Attendees are invited to walk or complete 5km around the park with up to 500 people. |
The events sit across several parts of the city rather than one single venue, so readers should check the specific location and time for each activity before setting off.
Who the week is for
Derby City Council’s notice presents the programme as open to the wider public, with events focused on welcome, awareness and cultural understanding.
Councillor Sarah Chambers, Cabinet Member for Communities, Equalities and Public Safety, said Refugee Week gives people an opportunity to recognise communities, cultures and the stories of those who had the courage to make Derby their home after fleeing conflict and violence.
She said the council is committed to creating a safe, welcoming and inclusive city, and that the week’s events celebrate the communities that make Derby “a vibrant and diverse city”.
What to check before attending
The confirmed dates for Refugee Week 2026 in Derby are Monday 15 June to Sunday 21 June. The council notice names several individual events, but not every listing includes full entry or booking details.
Price information is not specified in the notice. Derby City Council directs readers to the Derby City of Sanctuary page for the full programme of events taking place during Refugee Week 2026.
Source: Derby City Council
Context & actions About this article
Source check Source trail
This article was prepared from Derby City Council’s published Refugee Week 2026 notice and the event details listed in it.
- Checked the published event window as 15 June to 21 June 2026.
- Matched named venues to the council notice: Derby Market Hall, Derby Refugee Forum, Susann...
- Kept price and booking details limited to what the notice states, with price not specified...
- Used the council’s historical context on refugee communities in Derby.
- Source
- Derby City Council
- Scope
- Derby
- Updated
- 2026-06-15 16:33
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