Refugee Week 2025 | Taunton Town Council is flying the Refugee Flag
CHARIS was delighted to take part in a flag raising ceremony at Taunton Town Council to mark Refugee Week. The Refugee Nation flag was raised and the Refugee Anthem was played.
Taunton has recently been awarded Town of Sanctuary status by City of Sanctuary and the town council has vowed to ensure that Taunton remains a place of safety and sanctuary for all those fleeing war, persecution or exploitation.
The ceremony was overseen by Cllr Nick O'Donnell who also gave a personal speech explaining the importance of the ceremony to him and the town. Our CEO Gordon East spoke, as did HM's Lord Lieutenant of Somerset Mohammed Saddiq, and Kateryna Titova from Ukraine read a poem by Langston Hughes called, 'I Dream a World'.
The ceremony was also attended by the High Sheriff of Somerset Janet Montgomery and the Mayor of Taunton Cllr Martin Straus who raised the Refugee Flag along with Atefeh Etesami from Iran who is CHARIS's Head of Art.
There were also representatives from Somerset Council, Refugee Aid From Taunton #raft, Taunton Welcomes Refugees, and a number of refugees and asylum seekers. Members of the first family settled by CHARIS in Taunton in 2017 were also in attendance.
We are privileged to live in a town and county that is actively compassionate towards refugees and asylum seekers, and to work closely with the councils and other wonderful organisations to make our community so welcoming.