A fun packed week of activities to celebrate Refugee Week in Croydon will culminate in a festival of sport in Norbury Park.

The national theme of Refugee Week 2021, ‘We cannot walk alone’  offers an invitation to extend your hand to someone new. Someone who is outside your current circle, has had an experience you haven’t, or is fighting for a cause you aren’t yet involved with.

In Croydon, Croydon Voluntary Action, the Croydon Refugee and New Communities Forum and numerous community and voluntary sector organisations have combined to offer a host of activities over Refugee Week, running from June 14th to 20th. This includes football, dance, yoga, boxing,  and sailing.

The week culminates in a fun packed Cricket Tournament at Norbury Park on World Refugee Day  on Sunday 20th. 

There will be Football Tournament involving a Met Police Team with special appearances from professional players  including Australian-born English cricketer Nathan Sowter from Middlesex County.

The event is supported by Surrey Cricket and the English Cricket Board, with appearances from the Oval Invincibles and London Spirit, with free tickets for the winning 6 a side team. 

There are coaching sessions for 5-8 and 9-11 years olds in the morning, plus drumming, boxing and Brazilian Ju Jitsu. All activities are free and participants are invited to come along, join in and try something new. 

Steve Phaure, CEO of Croydon Voluntary Action said:“Refugees and people from new communities have made an enormous contribution to Croydon life. Refugee Week gives us an opportunity to celebrate and recognise all that they have done to make Croydon a more diverse and vibrant place to live.”

Adam Yasir, Chair of Croydon Refugee and New Communities Forum said : “Throughout history, we have seen that those from the most humble or disadvantaged backgrounds, once given the opportunity, have often defied the odds despite the systemic barriers in their path. Merit, excellence and resilience, diversity and inclusion are qualities Croydon and its residents’ offer, such qualities can make a difference to our societies and institutions. 

“We can’t walk alone without the contributions of refugees and migrants, let’s continue the journey of hope and kindness, let’s welcome refugees out of places such as Napier camp into our communities.”

Contact Christine.double@cvalive.org.uk  for further details.