School students unveil poetry project to celebrate Refugee Week

To celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Refugee Week, a group of students are leading the welcome wagon by unveiling a new film to mark the occasion.

Primary and secondary school pupils from East Wichel Primary School, Drove Primary School, Lydiard Park Academy, The Commonweal School, and Royal Wootton Bassett Academy will be unveiling a poetry project 'Twenty Welcomes' at Swindon Arts Centre, Monday 28 January.

Thanks to funding from South Swindon Parish Council 20 school pupils have embarked on a collaborative project to showcase Swindon's history of inclusivity and diversity. The group have been working alongside Swindon City of Sanctuary to create a poem 'Twenty Welcomes', which has also been developed into a short documentary.

Between the group, the pupils collectively speak more than 10 languages. Filmmaker Florence Pellacani has captured the students exploring the meaning of 'welcome' which has been formed into a poem with the help of local poet Hilda Sheehan. The young people's aim of the project is to spread their message of welcome.

The project will be unveiled tomorrow at Swindon Arts Centre. At further information and to book free tickets visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-evening-of-welcomes