KHAR newsletter #3 -
A monthly newsletter from Kings Heath Action for Refugees, a registered charity in England and Wales (1200013).
Welcome to the KHAR newsletter - celebrating KHARnival!
We're into July and that can only mean one thing - KHARnival! Our fundraising community carnival in Highbury Orchard, Kings Heath.
It's one of our absolute favourite days of the year and we love our whole community, all our supporters, partner charities, asylum seekers all coming together in one space to celebrate Kings Heath, Birmingham and our welcoming community!
We're so lucky to be supported by so many local performers and businesses donating their time and services, this year we are supported by......
Performers including:
Food & Drink including:
with drinks available from Highbury Mansion
with activities including…
Our shimmer shack
Birmingham Artivistas butterfly craft and woodland installation
Lawn games up at the hall
More to be announced, keep an eye on our social media.
All KHARnival photos by Kate Jackson
Where you can find us next
We have several markets between now and KHARnival.
The Flapper Summer Market, Sunday 25 June, 1-6pm
CoCoMAD, Cotteridge Park, Saturday 1 July, 12noon-7ish
Butterfly craft workshop (all ages) at How Brave Is The Wren, Saturday 15 July, drop-in, all day! Children must be accompanied by an adult.
KHARnival in Highbury Orchard & Mansion, Highbury Park, Sunday 16 July 12-5pm. Entrance pay as you feel donation.
And later in the summer/autumn:
Kings Heath Artisan Market, York Road, Sunday 13 August, 10am-4pm
Stirchley Community Market, Saturday 16 September, 10am-3pm
Harborne Handmade, Moor Pool Estate, Sunday 17 September, 10am-4pm
See you there!
Celebrating 10 years of Paperdolls Handmade
Merch highlights
Our new fundraising merch is exclusive to our upcoming markets and at KHARnival. All proceeds go towards our work in Birmingham and with partner charitable organisations in the UK and overseas.
We have new keyrings available in two colourways:
We also have new t-shirts by Do Make Say Ink, screenprinted in two colours:
And pouches with artwork by Sarah Taylor Silverwood:
Ways you can support us
Volunteer with us - we appreciate all support, from helping staff market stalls, stewarding KHARnival through to more organisational support.
Please get in touch via email if you’d like to chat about how you might be able to help.
What’s in the news
It’s currently Refugee Week, which is the world’s largest arts & culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. Founded in 1998 in the UK and held every year around World Refugee Day on the 20 June, this year’s Refugee Week 2023 is the 25th anniversary, it started on 19 June and ends this Sunday 25 June. There’s an event on Saturday 24 June (tomorrow) in Victoria Square, with a procession at 10.15am Birmingham City Centre, meeting at Waterstones 10:00am
This last week saw the devastating news from the Mediterranean of an estimated 750 people capsizing on a fishing boat whilst seeking safety:
"Of the estimated 750 people onboard the unstable fishing boat, only 104 were brought to the port of Kalamata and sheltered in a storage hall at the port, without access to even the most basic facilities. It’s feared up to 650 people, humans with hopes and dreams, with no choice but to leave their homes, have senselessly lost their lives. Harrowing accounts by survivors tell of hundreds of women and children in the hold of the boat, nowhere to be found, lost with the wreck.
Deemed one of the most deadly shipwrecks in Greece’s recent history, this catastrophe is not an anomaly, and it was avoidable. SOS signals from the ship were reportedly ignored by authorities; emails have been released by Alarm Phone @alarmphoneofficial of their pleas for assistance for the passengers of the boat in distress, hours before it sank. They could have been helped, the Greek state made a choice.
This tragically loss of life is a direct result of the hostile migration policies that have swept Europe in recent years. Rather than fortifying its borders, governments need to create safe routes into Europe." (@chooselove)
This has to stop - SAFETY IS A HUMAN RIGHT
Other refugee action
Theatre company Cloud Cuckoo Land have secured funding to run interactive workshops and sessions:
Hoopla! - workshops for newly arrived families at Red Shed, Selwyn Road Playing Fields (near Edgbaston Reservoir, B16 0SL)
Creative play sessions for children aged 2-12. Family members are also invited to attend.
Play, sing, make, explore nature and have fun with Cloud Cuckoo Land Theatre.
Snacks and drinks will be provided.
Transport provided from the Collection Hotel and from Britannia Hotel (taxis leaving hotels at 12.30pm and returning at 3.30pm).
Dates:
Saturday 22nd July
Wednesday 26th July
Tuesday 1st August
Tuesday 8th August
Tuesday 15th August (full day 10am - 5pm)
For more information text/ WhatsApp or call 07376 020819.
This project is funded by Birmingham City Council.
Catch them at KHARnival on Sunday 16 July!
Thank you for reading
ps. Here’s a link to our online shop for all merchandise - thanks for your support!
Hi Maz,
If the event takes place in the orchard, dogs on leads are welcome as it is part of Highbury Park. However, if wet weather pushes us inside into Highbury Hall, dogs will unfortunately not be welcome. Keep an eye on our socials for updates on the weather plans.
Thanks
Hi, is the KHARnival dog friendly? Thanks