Festival By The Lake raising funds for Hastings Supports Refugees

Top musicians support festival welcoming refugees to Hastings

Award winning jazz musicians Liane Carroll, Ian Shaw and Sarah Jane Morris, and poet John Hegley, are among the artists appearing at Festival by the Lake on Sunday 24 June, 12 – 8pm in the beautiful surroundings of Ashburnham Place, near Battle, East Sussex. Dominika Hicks writes.

Now in its second year, the event aims to raise awareness of the global refugee crisis and raise funds for local group Hastings Supports Refugees. This year’s event is also the formal launch of Hastings as a Community of Sanctuary, part of the national City of Sanctuary movement that holds the vision that the UK will be a welcoming place of safety for all and proud to offer sanctuary to people fleeing violence and persecution.

Taking place on the closing day of Refugee Week 2018, Festival by the Lake is a full day of music, food, workshops and more. At the heart of the event is a communal picnic. Eating together is a powerful statement and everyone is invited to bring food, bring friends and make new friends as part of a shared experience.

The lake on the estate will be open for wild swimming and you can take a guided tour of the woodlands and kitchen garden. There will also be children’s activities, creative workshops and a range of talks.

The event has been co-programmed by Hastings based musician, Gwyneth Herbert who says: “Working with refugee individuals and families from all over the world has made me realise how lucky I am to have a home. And I feel especially lucky that my home is in maverick, historic, song-drenched, carnival-peppered, fire-hilled and rebel-hearted Hastings. This festival is about welcoming the new members of our community in the true spirit of our town – to munch, glug, boogie, giggle… to listen and learn from and celebrate each others’ stories.”

Also on the bill are musicians King Size Slim, Los Twangeros, Samaki Afrobeat, Hannah Atkins and traditional Irish Music from Chan Reid & Hastings CCE. Local spoken word promoters The Whole Shebang will present four fantastic poets and there will be range of speakers from Syria and the UK.

Tickets are £15 adults, £5 for under 18s and free for under 5s, available online and from Trinity Wholefoods (3 Trinity St, Hastings TN34 1HG) and the Hastings Tourist Information Centre (Muriel Matters House, Breeds Place, TN34 3UY) or via Eventbrite. Full details at Hastings Supports Refugees. Shuttle bus tickets from Hastings £2 each way. Sorry no dogs allowed on site

By kind support of Ashburnham Place who provide conference and team building facilities for local and national organisations.

Immediately following the event in the Ashburham Place main house:

East Sussex Community and Faith Action for Vulnerable Syrian Families (ESCAFA) are holding a Forum for anyone who is currently involved, or who may be interested in being involved with Syrian Vulnerable Families in East Sussex. The Forum event will include updates from the local government around the Syrian Resettlement Scheme, good news stories & summaries of what’s going on in community groups around East Sussex, as well as an opportunity for complimentary drinks and treats whilst meeting others in your Borough to discuss local opportunities of being involved with these families yourself. Come along!

Festival By The Lake raising funds for Hastings Supports Refugees

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