August 05, 2026
A summer of creativity and conversation
This summer has been filled with opportunities for LRMN’s Community Champions to learn, create, and connect with others across South East London.
LRMN’s Community Champions were delighted to return to Sister Midnight FM this month for our regular community radio slot!
As July’s heatwave sparked conversations across the country about rising temperatures and extreme weather, the programme focused on climate change and its impact on people from refugee and migrant backgrounds. Jane, Reggie, Becky, and Elizabeth shared thoughtful personal reflections on how environmental change affects communities differently, particularly those who may already be facing displacement, insecurity, or barriers to accessing support.
The discussion showed the importance of ensuring that conversations about climate justice include the voices of people with lived experience of migration and forced displacement. Our monthly Sister Midnight FM slot continues to provide an important platform for sharing perspectives and building understanding through open and honest dialogue.
Thank you so much to Christine from SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS and the Sister Midnight FM team for once again providing such a welcoming space for these important conversations and for supporting community voices to be heard.
In July, LRMN attended the Greenwich Borough of Sanctuary Network meeting alongside local organisations, residents with lived experience, and representatives from the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
The gathering was a valuable opportunity to hear about the many services and initiatives supporting refugees and migrants across the borough. It was great to particularly hear about New Arrivals CIC’s extensive programmes and projects dedicated to supporting migrant communities in Greenwich, and the meaningful difference this work is making for people building a new life in the UK.
With Greenwich preparing for the renewal of its Borough of Sanctuary Award, the meeting also included discussions about how the borough can continue developing as a place where people seeking sanctuary are treated with dignity and compassion. It was also wonderful to see the Mayor of Greenwich, Councillor David Gardner, in attendance, demonstrating the council’s ongoing commitment to the Sanctuary movement.
Over the summer, LRMN’s Community Champions have been taking part in a unique filmmaking programme facilitated by artist, filmmaker, and University of the Arts London Senior Lecturer Justyna Kabala.
Through a series of five interactive sessions, participants are gaining practical experience in all aspects of creating a short film. The workshops cover everything from developing ideas as a group and planning scenes visually, to filming, recording sound, and shaping the final edit.
Champions are encouraged to contribute their own perspectives, stories, and creative ideas, making the process as important as the finished film itself. The river has been chosen as the project’s central theme, providing a metaphor for movement, change, belonging, and connection. As the story develops, the river becomes a thread that brings together the different experiences and voices of those involved.
We’re very excited to share the completed film with our community at a special screening later this year!