Blog Archives

HWSF featured in the Welwyn Hatfield Times

25/6/2019

The Welwyn Hatfield Times featured the work of HWSF in a news piece for refugee week. You can read the article here: www.whtimes.co.uk/news/three-syrian-families-in-welwyn-hatfield-1-6119531

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Filming a refugee's story

18/6/2019

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The filmmakers from Left to Right: Catherine Henderson, writer and creative consultant; Rosie Wyllie, animator; Katharine Seaton, producer, editor and composer-sound designer

We caught up with Katharine Seaton about her upcoming film, Suspended, which was made in conjunction with HWSF. Here are six things she told us about the film:

Our film, Suspended, tells the story of a man resettled in Hertfordshire under the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement scheme. He is a former restaurant owner who had to flee Syria to protect his family.

We chose to make the film using stop motion animation with sound and music (as opposed to a traditional documentary) in order to protect the identity of this refugee for the sake of his friends and family who are still in Syria. We also thought this was a really good way to show what it felt like to be there.

He showed great courage and humanity in telling his own story, and was so hospitable and lively. He was passionate about making his experiences more widely known so that everyone can understand how the Syrian regime operates.

There were three elements of the storytelling: the narration, the animation and the soundtrack, and I've learned a lot of new ways that they can work together to build a story.

The title of our film came from thinking about a life stopped in its tracks, suspended. There are chapters in the story that draw out the difficult physical meaning of that word, too: torture, and dependence on medical interventions. So we see suspension a lot. And, of course, the story isn't yet over.

I hope this story does for viewers what it did for me: makes them ask "what would I do, how would I cope?" I have so much admiration for the fortitude of the refugees I meet.

If you’re interested in finding out more about Suspended, or donating towards its completion please get in touch with Katharine Seaton, katharine.s.seaton@gmail.com

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Poem by our Women's Group

16/6/2019

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The St Albans & Hertsmere women’s group wrote this poem together for Refugee Week:

FAMILY

Missing our Family

And wanting to bring them together

Many of us are missing our mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, sisters and brothers

Important because every Syrian family is not happy

Love to bring them here. We are lucky because some of our children are here, getting a good education and we are safe here

You can help us to find a safe place for our family and support us to bring some of our family to safety here.

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Eid Women's Lunch

16/6/2019

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We had a great Eid women’s lunch at St Mary’s Church Ware. A volunteer brought a delicious homemade rice and lamb dish and there were also many addictive sugary pastries.

The Ware women were joined by women from Hatfield and further afield. Everyone enjoyed themselves chatting and meeting new friends.

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Our Patron

7/6/2019

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We are delighted to announce that Robert Voss CBE, Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, has agreed to become our Patron.

He was appointed Her Majesty The Queen’s Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire in 2017, a position he will hold until 2028. He was awarded a CBE in 2014 for “services to British Industry and voluntary work in the UK.”

We look forward to working with him and benefiting from his experience and contacts throughout the county.

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HWSF featured in the Welwyn Hatfield Times

Filming a refugee's story

Poem by our Women's Group

Eid Women's Lunch

Our Patron

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