I recently helped build a Sukkah for the first time in my life. It might sound odd, but I was brought up to mark Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Hannukah and Pesach but somehow Sukkot was missed out. A group of us built our Sukkah at Friends Meeting House, with fragrant fresh greenery brought from people’s […]
Sukkot at Friends Meeting House Read More »
Every week in a library community room, you’ll see a group of people sitting around a table reading a story together. You might notice intense discussion, bursts of laughter, occasionally tears. This is Story Tree, a safe, comfortable space where refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants gather to share reading and improve their English. Unlike
Story Tree – reading together Read More »
‘Thank you for coming in yesterday. The children really enjoyed your session and we’ve raised lots of awareness and money for Care4Calais which is wonderful.’ Rhona Sykens, Year 5 teacher, 23 June 2023 For the past two years, the children and parents at St Christopher’s Prep School have collected donations for Refugee Week and spent
Refugee Week visit to St Christopher’s Prep School, Hove Read More »
In April 2023, on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday agreement in 1998, I was invited to speak in a podcast about Irish history for an ALCS Reteach podcast. Reteach is a fantastic toolkit ‘for teachers seeking fresh viewpoints, deeper subject knowledge and diverse thinking.’ It offers free resource lists to help teachers ‘offer
Irish history from the Irish perspective Read More »
When I’m talking to friends and acquaintances from war-torn countries, I don’t ask why or how they escaped. After many months, one friend shows me a video of their bombed home in Damascus. A young man I’ve just met alludes to a nightmarish journey through Libya. Others never say a word to me. Most refugees
In Refugee Week in June 2022, St Christopher’s School in Hove was holding a donator day. The children brought donations for Care4Calais, and were going to make up bags of essentials for refugees stuck in Calais. To provide some context, Lily Smart from St Christopher’s School in Hove invited me to speak to the children
Lamar’s story – a refugee tale for young children Read More »
Here’s a report I wrote as part of the Hopeful Solidarities research project Cath’s report_v4
What refugees need: Perspectives from Migrant English Project students Read More »
Migrant English Project (MEP) is run by volunteers. It is a safe space where refugees and migrants can learn English. A short report for MEP by Cath Senker, Amy Clarke and Ben Rogaly[1] All names have been changed. 1 What is MEP? Migrant English Project (MEP) is a place to learn, find support and make
Hope and Solidarity at Migrant English Project Read More »
Compiling a catalogue of stamps issued some 50 years ago is a challenge. Issued in small quantities, usually fewer than 200, some of them fade if exposed to light. The Great Bitter Lake Association Stamp Catalogue, published in 2020 by Peter Valdner, was a breakthrough in the study of the unique stamps produced by seafarers
Calling Great Bitter Lake stamp enthusiasts! Read More »