More than 100 staff and students from across Eastern Education Group came together on Tuesday, June 17, for a special Refugee Picnic held at the University and Professional Development Centre in Bury St Edmunds. Held as part of Refugee Week 2025, the picnic was a celebration of community, connection and cultural diversity, reflecting this year’s theme: “Community as a Superpower.”
Many of those attending were students of the group who have come to the UK as refugees, mostly from Ukraine and Afghanistan, who are now working to build their English skills, and, in some cases, to rebuild their lives entirely.
The picnic was hailed a major success, uniting students with staff in an afternoon of food, conversation, and thoughtful activities. Guests took part in a woven bracelet workshop, added heartfelt wishes to a wishing tree, and marked their home countries on a global map – a celebration of the rich diversity within the group.
Attendees were also able to view the powerful ‘I Welcome’ photographic exhibition from Amnesty International, produced in collaboration with Magnum Photos. Previously showcased in London and Edinburgh, the exhibition featured work from nearly 20 world-renowned photographers, including Moises Saman, Philip Jones Griffiths, Thomas Dworzak, and David “Chim” Seymour, and offered a poignant visual narrative of the journeys and resilience of refugees across the world.
Speaking at the event, Anne Short, Head of ESOL and Digital Skills at West Suffolk College, said:
“Every refugee has a story; stories of courage, determination, and the pursuit of safety and belonging. At Eastern Education Group, we recognise that education is a powerful force in rebuilding lives and fostering understanding.
“Today’s picnic gave us the opportunity to listen and be inspired by the voices and experiences of those who have overcome extraordinary challenges, and to recognise the incredible contributions of refugees in our college and local community.”
For many students, the picnic was an opportunity to share their own stories and the unique journeys they’ve been on. Omran Nayab, a 17-year-old refugee from Afghanistan who studies English at West Suffolk College, said:
“I’m studying English language here at West Suffolk College. I’m so happy with what I’ve learned here. When I first came to the UK I couldn’t speak any English, but now I’m better.
“I came to England two years ago and I started college last September. My English is getting better and I’m so happy I can communicate with people now. I can have conversations; I can find friends.
“I’d like to say thank you to the UK government and also thank you to all the staff and all the teachers at West Suffolk College, I’m so happy I came here.
“In the future, I want to be the best doctor in this country. For that reason, next September, I will start the health and social care course here at West Suffolk College. I want to do something for work where I’m helping other people and helping our society, that’s my biggest wish for the future.”
Eastern Education Group has hosted similar events in recent years, having launched the annual Refugee Picnic after lockdown. Michael Apichella, Programme Lead for EAL (English as an Additional Language) at West Suffolk College, spoke about the wider importance of the yearly gathering:
“I think these types of events are important at this moment in global history, when refugees are often in the news and there’s a lot of attention on people who are displaced and having to move. What doesn’t happen enough in the news is humanising these people. So, my big campaign this year has been to bring my students – who are almost exclusively refugees – into contact with the British public, as well as British students, to build good relationships, build bridges, and find common ground.
“Events like this are really good because it’s an opportunity for everyone to actually meet some of these students who are refugees and start building these connections with them, and for people to realise that these individuals are a huge part of our community, our society, and our workforce.”
Another student, Olha, a refugee from Ukraine who has been studying English at the college for three years, shared how much the sense of belonging means to her and her peers:
“For me, and I think for my friends, the day when we attend college is one of the best days in the week, because we feel supported, we see our friends, we see our lovely teacher, who we love.
“College for us isn’t just a place for studying, it’s a place to be in contact with other people who are in the same position. We feel more free and more comfortable here because there are other people with the same level of English and people who have come from the same conditions. For example, most of us have come from Ukraine and we had different jobs. I was a lawyer, my friend here was a teacher, another friend was a director of a big pharmaceutical firm, but here in England, we have started all over again.
“I think people in this country have been really understanding of our situation. We would say thank you very much to the government, thank you to everyone; from the local council to all the staff at the college, we feel the support, and this support helps us to believe in a better future.”
For anyone interested in learning English or improving their language skills, West Suffolk College offers dedicated English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses. More information can be found below.
