To celebrate and highlight Refugee Week 2025 Chester City of Sanctuary group have collaborated with The Bishops’ Bluecoat Church of England High School, Chester to produce an ‘A – Z Art Trail’.

The young people have produced 26 display posters to make up an A-Z on the theme of Sanctuary and Refugees. A QR code on the Trail leaflet takes you through to the City of Sanctuary website where more information can be found about the words chosen and the issues faced by Sanctuary Seekers.

The posters will be displayed in 17 different locations in the city. An accompanying trail guide details the route to discover the 26 pieces of art and there is a map to also assist people with the route. Locations include High Coffee in Rufus Court – a special Ukrainian connection, Wesley Church Centre – a Church of Sanctuary which was recently featured on the Chester Blog along with Chester Cathedral – a cathedral of Sanctuary.

To encourage children, families, and members of the public to complete a trail booklet, there is the chance to win a prize if they complete the trail and leave their form in the SHARE Shop in the special box. Picture house have donated 2 cinema tickets and Storyhouse has donated 4 tickets for Alice in Wonderland in Grosvenor Park.

The organisers hope that the trail will drive footfall to local business in conjunction with the May half term holiday. . The launch date is Saturday May 24th and the trail will run until 22nd June (end of Refugee Week).

The trail is being launched by The Chester Town Crier at 12.00 noon on Saturday 24th May in Exchange Square.

Trail leaflets are available from the Tourist Information and from all 17 venues which are listed on the leaflet.

Heather Swainston from Chester City of Sanctuary says:

“We are a volunteer group of local people promoting a culture of welcome and hospitality for those in our area who are seeking sanctuary from persecution and war. This A- Z Trail hopefully through looking at the art, thinking about the words and visiting our website http://www.chester.cityofsanctuary.org will help raise awareness for those wanting to understand asylum and refugee issues and to get people to empathise with people who have to flee their country – often leaving everything they know because their or their families’ lives are in danger.

“We are delighted that CWAC is a Borough of Sanctuary and so too the Cathedral, Wesley Church Centre.”

• There will be a great programme of events happening to celebrate Refugee Week 15th – 22nd June – details will soon be published.