St Luke’s Friday Community Dinner, Friday 20th June for Refugee Week❤️

As part of Refugee Week, our community centre proudly hosted a heart-warming Community Dinner, where volunteers came together to prepare and serve a delicious meal for all. The evening was a vibrant celebration of unity, culture and compassion, bringing together neighbours, friends, and newcomers in a shared space of warmth and welcome.

The event was filled with joy, laughter and connection. Guests enjoyed not only the lovingly prepared food but also an evening of dancing, music and lively conversation. It was truly moving to see people from all walks of life come together, share stories and build new friendships.

Ray O’Halloran, St Luke’s Chairman said: “This event was a true expression of what St Luke’s Community Centre and the people are all about. For our guests to be able to engage with local people, enjoy good food, good company, music and laughter, provided by St Luke’s, and all within a safe environment was wonderful. Guests were comfortable enough to be able to express their joy, celebrate life and all within such a diverse community, filled me with joy. To be part of this event was a privilege and pleasure and something I will cherish for ever. Thank you to everyone involved in making this happen for our guests and for being the wonderful hosts you always are to all our guests and visitors.”

We extend our deepest thanks to the incredible volunteers and staff who worked tirelessly to make the evening a success. Your dedication and generosity were the heart of this event. Most importantly, we thank our guests and community members who joined us—you are the reason we do what we do. Your presence made the evening unforgettable.

Refugee Week is a vital time to reflect on the strength, resilience, and contributions of refugees in our communities. It reminds us of the importance of creating inclusive spaces where everyone feels valued and at home. This dinner was a beautiful example of that spirit in action.

Thank you for being part of such a meaningful celebration. We look forward to many more moments of togetherness in the future. Take a look at the pictures and quotes from attendees below!

Quote from Thistle City Hotel resident: “The St Luke’s Community Dinner was truly special. It was the first event of its kind by St Luke’s and it coincided beautifully with World Refugee Day. It was heartwarming to see asylum seekers and refugees, community members, trustees and volunteers come together in such a welcoming and generous space. The community’s generosity was felt in every part of the evening, from the warm welcome to the delicious food and vibrant atmosphere. The food, music, photography and dancing brought everyone together in such a joyful way. These moments of togetherness are vital for mental health, especially when many are dealing with uncertainty and isolation. I had the chance to speak with community members and trustees, and it was inspiring to hear that St Luke’s is planning more support activities for asylum seekers and refugees in the future. Huge thanks to the amazing organisers, members of the St Luke community, trustees, cooks and volunteers for making it all possible. It was an unforgettable evening.”

Quote from Cllr Heather Small – Migrants Champion: “Community is truly a superpower. There is nothing like good food, music and dance to bring people together, extending a hand of friendship and embrace. We heard each other’s stories and saw each other as we are, human, all deserving of love and dignity. We danced together, we ate together, we smiled together, this is community and this is Islington”

 Quote from Robyn Lindeque – Care4Calais Volunteer: “We were so thrilled when St Luke’s reached out to collaborate with our Care4Calais support group for this Community Dinner to celebrate Refugee Week. The residents of the hotel, while they are living right in the centre of Islington, often do not feel connected to the community, as they have very little opportunities to engage with the locals. With the theme of this year’s Refugee Week being Community as a Superpower, we were really keen to do some community building and St Luke’s were able to provide the perfect opportunity. Around 25 asylum seekers joined Islington residents for a delicious meal and were able to share with the residents their Syrian and Kuwait music and dance moves! There is very little opportunity within the hotel for the residents to get to play music and dance and they were so excited to share this joy with St Luke’s. In a time where the media and others are trying to divide the UK into ‘us and them’, this dinner was a wonderful opportunity to bring together Islington’s diverse and unique community over a delicious shared meal. For asylum seekers arriving in the UK, they can sometimes feel isolated and unwanted. But for them to now know that they have friends in St Luke’s is incredibly powerful.”

Quote from St Luke’s member: “Anything that brings people together is a good thing!  This was an opportunity to share cultural music and let people leave their problems behind. Good food and music is a good way to bring people together.  I didn’t understand the music but that didn’t matter we were all happy, we were all dancing.   People with problems could leave them behind with the opportunity to forget them for that point of time.  It is always good to be in a group instead of alone – it’s a great thing to do!”