It was wonderful to welcome people from across our Diocese to last Saturday's Refugee Crisis Coffee morning with Bishop Richard at St Gabriel’s Hall, Billingshurst. Bishop Richard opened the meeting by highlighting the impact of the diocesan Refugee Crisis Fund which, supported by people across our community of faith, has been helping people in need across our Diocese since 2015.

Attendees were invited to share their experiences of refugee support across the Diocese, highlighting groups, organisations and initiatives they are involved with, and the range of work being done to support our refugee brothers and sisters across Sussex and Surrey. The meeting was extremely productive, with contributors from 10 parishes sharing valuable insight and expertise on the many difficulties and challenges faced by people forced to flee their homes to find places of safety and hoped for security in the UK. As a result of the meeting a number of attendees signed up to fulfil the voluntary role of Refugee Rep for their parishes, with a commitment from Bishop Richard and the diocesan Migrant Steering Group that anew Refugee Newsletter and further action points would follow in the Autumn. 

You can find out more about our Refugee Fund here. Our thanks to all those who attended the event, the people who kindly baked cakes, and those who helped to organise and set up the Hall.