A Day of Courage, Connection, and Solidarity at Ben & Jerry’s Festival
For the second year in a row, we were proud to be part of the Social Mission tent at Ben & Jerry’s Sundaes in the Park Festival. Alongside eight other incredible organisations, we helped create a vibrant space filled with energy, solidarity, and meaningful conversations about what it means to seek asylum in the UK.
This year felt even more special. At a time of increasing hostility towards people seeking safety, finding moments of connection with festivalgoers felt more important than ever. Plus, our team was bigger, and our activities were more engaging than ever!
Over the past two months, refugee women in our Campaigns Champions group came together to design activities that would not only be fun, but also spark conversations and raise awareness about the realities faced by people seeking sanctuary in the UK. Their creativity and dedication led to three powerful activities: our Tree of Courage, our Spin Wheel, and our Threads of Connection Wall.
Tree of Courage
Inspired by this year’s Refugee Week theme of Courage, the Tree of Courage invited visitors to pause and reflect. People left heartfelt messages of encouragement to refugee women, while others shared what courage means to them. By the end of the day, the tree had blossomed into a beautiful collection of hope, strength, and solidarity. We can’t wait to display these messages in our community space.
Spin Wheel
Visitors were invited to spin the wheel to receive a statement about the asylum system -deciding whether they were true or false. This simple but powerful activity challenged misconceptions and created space for honest conversations between our Champions and the public. We were delighted that so many people told us they had learnt something new!
Threads of Connection
At its heart, this activity was about showing that there is more that unites us than divides us. Using prompts like “I dream of…” and “I love…”, people discovered surprising and moving connections with others. By the end of the day, the wall was overflowing with connections – whether shared values, worries, hopes or dreams. It became a powerful statement of connection, community and humanity.
The Social Mission space was alive throughout the day–full of laughter, curiosity, and meaningful exchange. Most importantly, our Campaigns Champions felt welcomed, respected, and safe:
“I had so many interesting conversations. I felt powerful!”
“It was the best day!”
“I had a great time.”
We are so grateful to everyone who stopped by our stand, took part in our activities, and showed their support. You made the day even more special.
And a huge thank you to Ben & Jerry’s for inviting us and for organising such a brilliant festival – and of course, for the delicious ice cream! Spaces like this feel more important than ever, especially in a time when people seeking sanctuary continue to face so many challenges.
Days like this remind us that change doesn’t happen in isolation - it happens through connection, community, and shared action.
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