REFUGEE Week is just around the corner and for the first time, Swindon can look forward to a full programme of events to mark the occasion.

Our town will join others from around the country in honouring the contribution that refugees make through a celebration centred on art, education and cultural understanding.

Swindon City of Sanctuary is organising and hosting the week with assistance from The Harbour Project, Voluntary Action Swindon and Swindon and Marlborough Amnesty - the theme is ‘different pasts, shared futures'.

With events happening in schools, colleges, galleries, music venues and community spaces across Swindon from June 19 to 25, there is sure to be something for everybody to enjoy.

“Refugee Week is a fantastic opportunity for all communities in Swindon to unite, celebrate, and enjoy themselves,” said Kate Hudson, who is involved in coordinating the programme.

“We hope that by drawing local communities together, we will be able to bust a few myths about the issue of asylum seekers and immigration in a positive and playful way.”

The celebration kicks off on Saturday, June 17, with the Great Get Together - a street party at the Central Community Centre in Emlyn Square.

The party will coincide with another Great Get Together in Walcot and in towns and cities around the UK, organised to honour the memory of Jo Cox, the Labour MP murdered last year.

Other highlights of the week include an art exhibition by the artist Gil Mualem Doron, and private view at Artsite’s Number Nine gallery, as well as a film screening and play.

Dubbed The New Union Flag: A Shared Future, the exhibition is an exciting interactive installation that seeks to challenge our perceptions of what it means to be British. It will be held on the Wednesday evening and tickets are still available.

Nicola Johnson, development worker for Swindon City of Sanctuary, said: “We are really excited to have Gil on board for Refugee Week. He has a very tight schedule but is delighted to be coming to Swindon.”

The week’s main event, The Global Tea Party, will run from 1pm to 4pm at Christ Church Community Centre in Old Town and for the night-owls, the Beehive will be hosting a night of live music from 5.30pm until late.

As if a week of events was not enough, on the following Monday and Tuesday the Bohemian Balcony will host The Scar Test, a play telling the powerful and disturbing story of life inside the infamous Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre.

Most of the events are free. For more information about all of the events including booking details, and to find out more about Swindon City of Sanctuary itself, visit swindon.cityofsanctuary.org/events

To book tickets to The Scar Test visit www.bohemianbalcony.com

Annie Vickers, of The Harbour Project, said: “It’s been wonderful working with and as part of Swindon City of Sanctuary on Refugee Week this year.

“I can’t wait for the party to start.”