Press Coverage 2018 – Rural Refugee Network

Petersfield Post, September 2018

Ref: 67/2018 RKSS 29 June 2018

Refugees welcomed for family fun day at University of Winchester
The University of Winchester opened its doors to refugee families for a family fun day on 23 June during World Refugee Week.
Following a successful event last year, the University’s Widening Participation team coordinated the fun day with the Rural Refugee Network (RRN).
University student and staff and RRN volunteers welcomed refugee families, from young children to the elderly, and ran a range of activities, including crafts and sports games. Guests were treated to free cakes and snacks, all of which were donated to the event. RRN volunteers and local Jemma Wheeler also provided complimentary massage therapy. Huge efforts were made to ensure every guest felt welcome, with transport provided and translation services available for those who spoke English as a second language.
“The family fun day was another demonstration of the University’s active commitment to supporting refugees and enabling them to feel part of a welcoming community,” said Dr Terri Sandison, Special Projects Manager. “The University is also involved in a wider range of refugee-related work, including research, teaching, outreach and scholarships. Our collaboration with the Rural Refugee Network extends this in a very positive way, helping our staff and students to learn from refugees, not only in terms of their aspirations and needs, but also in terms of the contributions they are able to make to the Hampshire area both now and in future.”
The Rural Refugee Network is a South East based charity dedicated to sourcing accommodation and support services for Syrian refugees who are resettling in the area. They provide a number of services including befriending, transport, English language tuition, mentoring, advice and training using their network of trained volunteers. They also campaign on behalf of Syrian refugees and share best practice with other organisations with the aim of rescuing a greater number of refugees.
Through the partnership with RRN, the University offers a range of events and opportunities to refugees and will be running its annual residential program for asylum seeker children and young people later this year.
The University of Winchester is dedicated to widening participation among minority and disadvantaged groups, including refugees. In 2010, Winchester was one of the first two universities in the UK to offer a fee waiver scheme for students who were already living in the UK, but seeking asylum or humanitarian protection. The University’s Sanctuary Award waives tuition fees and offers a bursary of £3,000 a year to support the costs of study for up to five new students each year. Since 2010, 18 students from 11 countries have received the awards, including three who progressed to the University from local authority care.
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Notes to editors:

About the University of Winchester
The University of Winchester is a leading university for teaching excellence and was shortlisted for University of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards 2017. Our primary and secondary initial teacher training programmes are rated outstanding by Ofsted (December 2017). Founded in 1840 the University offers undergraduate and postgraduate study on a range of subjects within the arts, humanities, social sciences, business, law, sport, education, and health and social care. The University received the British Quality Foundation UK Excellence Award 2016 in recognition of excellence across its operations. It also received the BQF Sustainable Future Achievement Award 2016 for outstanding environmental or social contribution to achieving a more sustainable world.

Media enquiries:
University of Winchester Press Office
E: press@winchester.ac.uk
T: 01962 827678

Useful websites for journalists:
www.winchester.ac.uk – University of Winchester
www.winchester.ac.uk/news – Latest news releases
www.winchester.ac.uk/events – Events calendar

Petersfield Post, June 6th 2018