Refugee Week at Manchester Libraries
Between 16th to 22nd June 2025, Manchester Libraries will be hosting a range of activities as part of Refugee Week.
The theme for Refugee Week this year is ‘Community as a Superpower’, celebrating the incredible everyday. Ordinary and extraordinary. Kindness multiplied to become an unstoppable force!
Libraries are places of sanctuary and welcome for all and Manchester Libraries have an amazing line-up of events during this week to raise awareness and support for refugees.
Across multiple libraries, expect to see Moomin themed craft activities for children and families. Expect to make and design an accordion-style paper house and help to decorate the library.
- Arcadia Library Thursday 19 June 3:30 – 4:30pm
- Avenue Library, Saturday 21 June 11am – 12noon
- Beswick Library, Saturday 21 June, 12:30 – 2:30pm
- Chorlton Library, Thursday 19 June 3:30 – 5pm
- Didsbury Library, Saturday 21 June 2 – 3:30pm
- Gorton Library, Friday 20 June 3:30 – 4:30pm
- Hulme High St Library, Wednesday 18 June 3:30 – 4:30pm
- Longsight Library, Saturday 21 June 2:30 – 3:30pm
- Newton Heath Library, Saturday 21 June 2 – 3pm
- North City Library, Saturday 21 June 10:30am – 12noon
- Powerhouse Library, Thursday 19 June 4:30 – 5:30pm
There will also be Refugee Week film screenings. These specially selected films will explore the theme of #communityasasuperpower.
Two short family friendly films ‘Journey Mercies’ and ‘The Scent of Geranium’ will be shown at Central Library Family Film Club on Saturday 21st June and at North City Library and Abraham Moss Library, dates and times tbc. ‘Journey Mercies’ is a personal story reflecting on cultural identity, grief, and the meaning of “home”, as inspired by Adepeju’s own experience as a Nigerian immigrant in London.
Whereas in ‘The Scent of Geranium’, Farzaneh uses her own experience as an Iranian international student in the U.S. to voice the fears, doubts, and complex range of emotions that immigrants face; making a powerful call for a more compassionate approach.
At Longsight Library, audiences will be able to watch the feature length film: ‘Fremont’. The film follows Donya, a young Afghan who moved to Fremont, California after serving as a translator for the American army. She spends her days working at a fortune cookie factory and her nights wide awake battling between her desire to rebuild her life and the overbearing guilt she carries within. In a bid to connect with the world, the film finds her sending an unconventional message through a fortune cookie. Screened on Wednesday 18 June 5:45 – 7:30 pm, light refreshments will also be on offer.
Book your free eventbrite ticket here
Find out more about Refugee Week here
