New Scots and old Scots Get Together for a park picnic
You, Me and a Cup of Tea is a colourful, family-friendly ‘picnic for everyone’ being hosted by Scottish Refugee Council and Refuweegee as part of the Great Get Together weekend of events. The Great Get Together and The Big Lunch are working with Eden Communities to commemorate MP Jo Cox and to celebrate community spirit around the country.
The picnic will take place in Glasgow’s Barrowland Park from noon to 3pm on Saturday 17th June (there is a back-up plan if it rains!), and will also be a warm-up for Refugee Festival Scotland, launching the following week.
Scottish Refugee Council and Refuweegee are inviting Scots old and new to come for a cup of tea – or chai – and some sandwiches or cake. An opportunity to chat with people from all walks of life and celebrate our amazing communities in the city, as with the Cup of Tea with a Refugee campaign.
Spoken word artist Leyla Josephine will also run a workshop guiding people to create some short performances around Refugee Festival 2017’s theme of Connect, as well as ideas such as Welcome and Home.
Scottish Refugee Council Media Officer Rachel Hamada said: “Tragic events such as the killing of Jo Cox, who stood up for refugees, and recent attacks in London and Manchester, can seem overwhelming. The perpetrators seek to divide us, but we are calling on people instead to connect more meaningfully than ever.
“We are using ‘Connect’ as a call to action, to encourage people and communities to connect with each other and get to know each other better. Welcoming refugees is not a one-off act but an ongoing, shared commitment to building a culture of friendliness, solidarity and empathy.
“As more refugees build their lives here in Scotland we are encouraging everyone to find ways to connect with each other – as neighbours, friends, colleagues – and realise how much we have in common and what we can learn from one another.”
Founder and director of Refuweegee Selina Hales said: “Refuweegee has been walking up an appetite to this event through our participation in the Great Big Walk. Starting in Batley, Jo Cox’s constituency, five teams set off to walk home to Cornwall, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and London.
“With a journey of over 420 miles back to Scotland and visiting amazing community projects and organisations along the way, the team are looking forward to celebrating with this ‘picnic for everyone’.”
“Refuweegee is all about bringing community together and we are delighted to be able to celebrate the fantastic community spirit in Glasgow that has welcomed people from all over the world and from all walks of life.”
People can sign up for the event here.
For more information from Scottish Refugee Council contact media@scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk or call 07850 930418/ 07739 859 872
For more information from Refuweegee or re The Great Big Walk contact selina@refuweegee.co.uk or call 07525462083
