Diocese of Chichester

Refugee Tales is an outreach project of Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group inspired by the experiences of men held in immigration detention at Gatwick and the work of the Group in more than 20 years of visiting.

For the last four years walkers from the Refugee Tales project walked in solidarity with Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Immigration Detainees. As people walked, they reclaimed the landscape of South East England for the language of welcome, and everywhere it stopped, it was met with hospitality and enthusiasm.

Working directly in collaboration with those who had experienced the UK asylum system, and taking Chaucer’s great poem of journeying as a model, established writers told a series of tales en-route. Through that sharing of other people’s tales, the project gathered and communicated experiences of migration, seeking to show, in particular, what indefinite detention means.

This year the Refugee Tales Walk 2019 takes place from Friday 5-10 July.

Bishop Richard will join many others and will be walking part of the route on 9 July in Bexhill.

If you can’t take part in the walk, there are other ways you can support this worthwhile event to end indefinite detention. Each day from Saturday 6 July there will be lunchtime and evening storytelling where leading writers and poets will help to tell the tales of asylum seekers, refugees and detainees.

Day 1 Saturday 6 July

AFTERNOON EVENT: Kingston Parish Hall, The Street, Kingston BN7 3NT

EVENING EVENT at 1900: Christ Church, 74 Prince Edward’s Road, Lewes BN7 1BH

This evening is sponsored by Westgate Chambers

Day 2 - Sunday 7 July

LUNCHTIME EVENT: Courtyard Café, YHA South Downs, Itford Farm, Beddingham, BN8 6JS

AFTERNOON REFRESHMENTS: Charleston Farmhouse, West Firle, Lewes BN8 6LL

EVENING EVENT at 1900: Alfriston War Memorial Hall, Old School House, The Tye, Alfriston, BN26 5TL

This evening is sponsored by Much Ado Books

Day 3 Monday 8 July

AFTERNOON EVENT at the Tiger Inn, The Green, East Dean, BN20 0DA

EVENING EVENT at 1900: Victoria Baptist Church, Eldon Road, Eastbourne BN21 1UE

Day 4 – Tuesday 9 July 2019

AFTERNOON EVENT: Aqua Bar and Grill, Sea Road, Pevensey Bay BN24 6EH

EVENING EVENT at 1900: De La Warr Pavilion, Marina, Bexhill on Sea, TN40 1DP

This evening is supported by The Boltini Trust

Day 5 – Wednesday 10 July 2019

AFTERNOON EVENT: St George’s Church, Station Rd, Crowhurst TN33 9DD

EVENING EVENT at 1800: Kino Teatr, 43-49 Norman Road, St Leonards on Sea TN38 0EQ

As in previous years this final ‘Event’ will be ticketed and these will be on sale for £10 at the University of Kent from 1 June 2019

This evening is sponsored by Garden Court Chambers

Further details of each event, including details of which leading author or poet is hosting or reading, and where they take place can be found on the website here: http://refugeetales.org/the-walk-of-2019/