A Day of Welcome 2022
Over 360 schools across the UK took part in A Day of Welcome this year, with thousands of pupils, staff and families coming together to mark the annual day of solidarity with their school communities.
Children from Heather Avenue Infant School with their Cards of Welcome for Syrian refugees
A Day of Welcome began in 2019 as a local initiative for schools in Norfolk, that helps to build a culture of welcome and understanding for people seeking sanctuary. Each year, we’ve managed to gain an increasing amount of interest and now, in its fourth year, we’re very proud to see A Day of Welcome being celebrated in schools right across East Anglia, and as far a field as Cardiff.
Our resource bank provides schools with a variety of activities and lesson plans that are suitable for children and young people, ranging from KS1 to KS4. The historical inspiration for some of our content was the story of the Kinder Transport, which saw refugee children brought to the UK by train to escape Nazi Germany. We also provide resources specifically designed for schools in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex, that share each county’s little-known history of refugee migration.
“We think schools want to help their students make sense of refugee migration, given that the topic has made headlines so much this year, especially with events in Afghanistan and Ukraine. The record interest in our Day of Welcome and Schools of Sanctuary scheme reflects a sea-change in attitudes towards newcomers to our towns and cities. We’re seeing a lot of goodwill, especially towards Ukrainian school children and I think schools feel they need the tools to help explore the topics of displacement and migration.”
- Jake Rose-Brown, Norfolk Schools of Sanctuary Lead
The event’s success has lead to interest from over 40 schools across the country, who are now seeking to join our network by becoming a School of Sanctuary.
Author Webcasts
Amongst the highlights of A Day of Welcome 2022 were the inspiring webcasts that were hosted by acclaimed writers, Michael Rosen and Miriam Halahmy. Watched by 11,000 school children across the UK, the authors talked about works that had been inspired by stories of migration and displacement.
Funded by VNET and the Young Norfolk Arts Trust, organisers said they were seeing an unprecedented level of interest in migration issues. Nania Poulson, Operations Director at VNET, said “VNET Education was delighted to be involved again with the Schools of Sanctuary’s ‘Day of Welcome’ this year and we were thrilled to sponsor the Michael Rosen event. Spreading the message of sanctuary and inclusion to so many children will have a positive impact on the world they are growing up in.”
Fundraising
For 2022, schools were invited to donate towards the Welcome Wheels fundraiser that was run by local charity New Routes Integration. We are extremely proud to announce that 17 participating schools (listed below) managed to raise a total of £5,822 on A Day of Welcome.
Bignold Primary, St Germans Academy, St Williams Primary School, Diocese of Ely Academy Trust, Ellingham VC Primary School, Hellesdon High School, Hethersett Woodside Primary and Nursery, Taverham High School, Cringleford CE VA Primary School, St Martin Shouldham CofE Primary, Garboldisham Primary, Woodton Primary, Avenue Junior, Heartsease Primary Academy, Pulham Primary, Coleman Infant and Junior Schools and St Williams Primary School.
A Day of Welcome 2023
We’re looking forward to growing our community even and sharing our message with more schools in the coming year. To register your interest for 2023, click here .
Pupil’s Work
We absolutely love seeing the results of our resources and sharing school children’s work with our wider community. If you would like to share your school’s work from A Day of Welcome 2022, please email your photos to info@norfolksos.co.uk
Aylsham High School created a Tree of Welcome and invited children from surrounding primary schools to join their own pupils in adding an orange hearts that contain messages of welcome for refugees. The tree is now on display in the school’s Reception area 🧡
Every child at Earlsdon Primary School made a ‘Hexagon of Hope’ which contributed to this colourful art project which is now on display in the entrance foyer. Their hexagons symbolise sanctuary, welcome and hope.
Click here to watch a warming video from the children and staff at Heather Avenue Infant School, welcoming everyone to their school in a mixture of languages.
Children at Wood Ley Primary School in Stowmarket used our wall-hanging resource to create a beautiful tapestry of their own, full of individual messages of welcome and hope.
