On this page, you'll find resources for schools, as well as news and stories about how young people have supported JRS UK.
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Primary resources
Secondary resources
How to support JRS UK
News & stories
These resources have been designed to meet learning points in the new RE curriculum for Catholic schools, introducing how the Catholic Church approaches refugees and migrants in its social teaching, lived experiences of people around the world and in the UK, and puts out calls to action, with suggestions for what schools can do if they’d like to get more involved.
These are new resources, and we welcome feedback and input from schools so that we can continually update and improve our materials. We will continue to add more resources to this page, including resources for confirmation classes.
Resources
Below you can find a mixture of classroom activities, assembly resources, and lesson plans for primary and secondary schools.
You can also click here to see all JRS UK resources for schools and young people in one place.
What makes you feel welcome? – a classroom activity for primary and lower secondary students for World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2023, which you can adapt to use at any time during the school year. This presentation briefly introduces the fact that many people are forced to move, and then focusses on the idea of welcome and hospitality. The class should focus on what makes them feel welcome and recognised by others, and how they would like to offer a welcome to others.
A message to young people in schools – without recourse to public funds, many of the refugee friends JRS UK work with are not able to attend college or university. In this letter, our refuge friend shares her hope to study, a message to young people in schools, and some insight into her experiences of seeking asylum in the UK. There are some suggested questions for reflection & possible next steps.
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This resource pack gives material for four lessons (which can be broken down further and covered over multiple classes) on a Catholic approach to refugees and migrants, intended to contribute to a spiral curriculum, drawing upon various learning points from the RED.
We have split up the content into four separate lessons, but teachers should adapt as appropriate for their class – some content can be covered over multiple lessons if suitable.
World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2023 assembly – a general assembly presentation introducing World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2023. It briefly introduces refugees and Pope Francis’ call for communities to offer a welcome to those seeking safety. The presentation focuses on what schools can do to raise awareness and help refugees and asylum seekers. This powerpoint can be adapted for use at any time during the school year.
Coming soon: Day of Action Pack
Here are some ideas of what you can do:
For more information, please get in contact with Victoria, Senior Communications and Engagement Officer, at victoria.firth@jrs.net.
News & Stories
Advent resources 2023
This year, there are two ways your school can get walk alongside refugees this Advent: by writing a Christmas Card to a refugee, or by following our Advent Calendar.
Why write?
For many of us, Christmas is a time spent celebrating with family and friends. For those accompanied by JRS UK, however, Christmas and New Year can be a difficult time as it is a reminder of the people and communities that they are separated from.
By writing a Christmas card and a message of solidarity, you can help provide a small bit of comfort, connection and encouragement over the holidays.
Sending in your cards…
Please send all Christmas cards to us at JRS Christmas Cards 2023, JRS UK, The Hurtado Jesuit Centre, 2 Chandler St, London E1W 2QT by Friday 8th December 2023
Resources to promote the Christmas Card appeal at your school
Double sided leaflet – This can be printed double sided. On one side, we share the importance of writing a Christmas card, and on the other are our top-tips. There is a space for you to write who cards should be handed in to and by what date. Hand these out at school/send home in your school newsletter!
Landscape poster (A3) – This poster shares a brief bit of information about what immigration detention is. There is a space for you to write who cards should be handed in to. After doing an appeal at an assembly or in class, stick this up on a notice board as a reminder!
Walk with us this Advent
Our Advent Calendar for schools suggests small acts everyone can do each day to walk alongside the refugee friends that JRS UK serves. These small acts involving a mixture of giving, taking personal action, learning, and praying.
Feel free to adapt or mix and match these actions as suits you and your school. There are links directing you to further resources/readings/materials.
Download the Advent Calendar for your school/class noticeboard…
Download a copy of the Advent Calendar to follow along with your class. It shows the ideas for action at a glance.
Two page version – you can print the calendar off on two landscape pages and stick them together. Useful if you want to look at the calendar in detail but don’t have large print sizes available to you!