University of Bedfordshire awarded funding for young refugees to tell their story through art

Art Refuge is delighted to be leading the art aspect of this important research project taking place in Norway, Finland and the UK across the next four years. The project will focus on the experiences of 50 young refugees and how they find health, happiness and prosperity with the help of Finnish, Norwegian and British citizens.It will also examine what they put back into those countries to create a sense of ‘relational wellbeing’.

Dr Ravi Kohli, Professor of Child Welfare at the University of Bedfordshire, said: “At present, many research studies regarding refugees focus on measuring needs and identifying remedies via changes to policies, resources, laws and practices. While this focus is important, we think that research also needs to be conducted beyond the drama and volatility of the asylum phase.

“Our focus is on quiet acts of hospitality between young refugees and those people who help them to forge a future despite the many difficulties that they face in rebuilding a sustainable life."