Welcome to the Summer 2026 newsletter – and what a summer it’s been! All of our activities have been blessed with fine weather, if sometimes a little warm. So there’s plenty to report – and a fashion show to look forward to.
The running team was Eileen Mawdsley, Penny & Bernard Sugden, Pete Rendell and Bob Jefford. Bernard previously ran The Manchester Marathon to raise money for BRWR.
All five are volunteers with the charity, and all five were happy to complete their courses in respectable times.
Trustee Pete is a keep-fit enthusiast. “It’s an opportunity to use my running to help other people,” he said. “The money will be used to help refugees settle into their new homes, into their communities and help them become independent and self-supporting.”
“British people have generally always supported refugees. My grandmother helped a refugee family from Belgium escape the Nazis at the start of WW2,” he added.
Penny said; “I think BRWR is a great charity and we should all support anyone escaping warzones and unpleasant regimes.”
Bob, who’s another trustee, thanked all the supporters. “The generous sponsorship definitely spurred me on, as did the thought that I was raising funds to help the lovely refugees that we support,” he said.
“These kind, friendly, grateful people simply want the chance to live in peace and harmony in a place where they are safe – free from often unimaginable dangers.
“They want to establish independent lives where they have jobs and repay the generosity of the UK with their taxes.
“We have so much in common with all our refugee friends, and the cultural differences that do exist are both fascinating and something to celebrate with kindness and tolerance.”
And it’s not too late to add your financial support to BRWR and the runners. Just click the button below!
“We were one happy family – united”: Eid celebration success!
The inaugural BRWR Eid Ul Adha celebration at Redditch Central Mosque was a huge success, with 70 people joining together to mark the second Muslim holy celebration of the year.
The event at the end of May, started with a welcome from BRWR trustee Tasnim Khawaja who attends the mosque and organised the visit, followed by an address from chair Yvonne Rendell.
Shaikh Shammas then welcomed the gathering and gave an explanation of the religious importance of the mosque’s layout, before inviting everyone to enjoy a splendid spread of food.
There were also activities for the many children who attended.
Tasnim was delighted with the celebration. “Success for me was watching the smiles, sharing conversations, enjoying certain foods for the first time and watching happy little children playing together… proudly in their special Eid clothes!” she said.
“But most of all, I absolutely loved the fact that we had representatives from all the different cultures and religions. We were one happy family – united, despite what is happening in the world.”
The gathering was joined by refugee friends from Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine and Iran. Some shared thought provoking personal experiences of the Hajj – or Pilgrimage – to Mecca in Saudi Arabia which is marked by Eid Ul Adha.
Noor Zafar was one of the mosque volunteers who worked so hard to make the day a success. “What stayed with me long after the event ended,” she said, “was not the food (though I’d be doing a disservice to the chocolate cake if I didn’t mention it!) or the programme, but the people.
“Many of those present have endured journeys most of us can scarcely imagine including leaving behind their homes and loved ones in search of mere safety and a better future. Yet despite the challenges they faced, the room was filled with gratitude and hope in abundance.
“The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) said: ‘The best among you are those who bring the greatest benefit to others.’ That message felt especially meaningful on this day.
“At a time when division and fear can often dominate the headlines, it was inspiring to witness something different: people coming together in friendship and mutual respect, seeing one another not through the lens of differences, but through our shared humanity.
“Sometimes the most powerful thing we can offer another person is simply kindness,” she concluded.
The now traditional BRWR summer events are well under way with every one of them enjoying the long, hot, sunny holiday weather.
Two canal trips basked in the warm weather with our refugee friends and volunteers gliding serenely through the locks between Tardebigge and Droitwich. One was aboard the Pamela May II and the other on the Cecilia Community Boat.
Organisers said the passengers were all thrilled with their mini voyages, and were very grateful for the trips provided by the Pamela May Trust and the Droitwich & Worcester Canal Society.
The seaside was the destination for another excursion with 20 refugee friends and volunteers trekking down to Weston-Super-Mare for a very well-received trip to the coast.
This excursion was organised by Holy Oaks, an organisation of three churches – St Philip’s in Webheath, St Bartholomew’s in Tardebigge and St Mary’s in Lower Bentley. The trio very kindly invited our refugee friends to join their coach party at a generously subsidised price.
Trustee Sophie Vokal said the tide was out during the visit. “Although the sea seemed completely out of reach, a relaxing time was enjoyed on the beach in the warm sea air, and the younger participants had fun building sandcastles and playing in the mud!” She said.
A number of our refugee friends have also taken advantage of free tickets provided by the National Trust for visits to their properties. Hanbury Hall, Charlecote Park and Hidcote Manor have been some of the destinations.
New ‘Kids’ on the block
There will be new opportunities for befriending with the imminent arrival of a new Afghan family in Redditch. Details are sketchy at the moment but the size of the house that’s been allocated suggests the family is likely to be fairly large.
The charity will be looking for a key friend and a supporting friend to help them settle into their new community.
It’s probable that they will have been in the UK for some time and may well have a reasonable grasp of at least some English. Anyone who would like to help out can contact chair@brwr.uk for more information without obligation.
The ‘thank you’ social organised to recognise the amazing effort that active supporters contribute to the success of BRWR, attracted about a third of all the charity’s volunteers.
The tea-and-cake gathering took place on the afternoon of Friday June 5th which was appropriately at the end of the UK-wide Volunteers’ Week – a campaign recognising all the sterling work carried out by about a sixth of the adult population who volunteer at least once a month.
About 30 BRWR volunteers joined the celebrations at The Bridge Church Community Hall in Headless Cross, Redditch, which was provided free of charge. Our thanks as always.
This will be the last newsletter before the ever-popular BRWR annual Fashion Show on October 17th.
It’s one of the charity’s main fund-raisers, so please make sure you all come along and join the fun – and bring all your friends with you!
The event is at Bromsgrove Methodist Church Centre and involves a short catwalk show with our brilliant refugees and volunteers modelling a range of High Street outfits that are then sold at a huge discounts.
There’s also a cake stall that never fails to attract a lot of attention!
The show always goes down well with anyone looking for stylish quality at bargain prices. Tickets costing £8 will be on sale in September, but you can guarantee that you don’t miss out by emailing info@brwr.uk to book your spot.
Did you know that Refujuice is delivered to your front doorstep at no extra cost, so you can support the charity and enjoy the tasty apple juice with the minimum of effort.
All you have to do is email refujuice.brwr@gmail.com to place your order, so you don’t even need to leave your comfy sofa!
The reason that Refujuice gets a mention in almost every newsletter is because it’s one of our two main annual fundraisers and we’ve invested a considerable amount to make the juice in the first place.
Refujuice is pure juice made by simply pressing apples. It comes in 0.75L bottles and is pasteurised, so an unopened bottle has a shelf-life of at least 12 months. The cost is £4 per bottle but only £40 if you take a dozen. And if you order three bottles or more, free local delivery is guaranteed. What are you waiting for?!
