Tunbridge Wells - Empathy Action

Desperate Journeys coming to Tunbridge Wells

Desperate Journeys is coming to Royal Victoria Place in Tunbridge Wells, from mid-February to the end of March 2019.

(UPDATE: Press Release: Desperate Journeys comes to Royal Victoria Place Tunbridge Wells)

‘Everyone should experience it’

‘You have definitely opened my eyes to this crisis’

‘An experience that will surely stay with me forever’

‘An inspired, thought-provoking experience’

The saying goes, “to begin to really understand another human being, you first need to walk a mile in their shoes.”

Desperate Journeys is a powerful immersive experience, designed by Empathy Action to increase people’s understanding of the global refugee crisis and build empathy with the 25.4 million refugees living in our world today.

Each ‘Journey’ can be made by up to 30 people at a time and lasts approximately 90 minutes, (there is also a 60 minute ‘Story’ version) including a reflective discussion at the end. Journeys will take place at set times during the opening hours of Royal Victoria Place, throughout the week and at weekends. We are offering the experience to schools, community groups, charities and businesses…in fact everyone who is interested! Our aim is to involve as many Tunbridge Wells people as possible, not just as participants, but also, we hope, in other ways.

Following a successful launch last year at Tonbridge Baptist Church, and further events held at Tonbridge Girls Grammar school and Sevenoaks School, we have seen a growing demand from groups wishing to experience Desperate Journeys, as well as our other empathy programmes.

To book, click here

We need your help

Empathy Action must build its volunteer base to meet the demand. One of our main objectives in running Desperate Journeys this Spring is to grow our team in preparation for all that lies ahead. We have many opportunities for people to get involved, not just with Desperate Journeys, but with our wider work too. They include:

Joining the wonderful cast as an actor (no prior experience necessary!)
Joining our brilliant backstage team
Joining the super set-building team and helping transform empty spaces.
Helping with the hosting, promotion, marketing, ticketing and administration of our events.
Coming along with friends or family and taking the journey yourself.
Connecting Empathy Action with contacts of yours who may be interested in experiencing or hosting our empathy activities; whether they be schools, businesses, community groups, churches or other organisations or sponsors to help take it even further.

*(The Desperate Journeys experience is suitable for Year 6 and upwards)

Empathy Action is entirely made up of volunteers and we are always looking for regular volunteers (full-time or part-time) to grow the charity and to help us in our work of changing hearts and inspiring action in a hurting world.

We are holding a Desperate Journeys information meeting on Saturday 16th February at 15.00 in Royal Victoria Place. Please come along if you would like to hear more.

To book, click here.

Alternatively, do get in touch and speak to us directly. We’d love to hear from you!

Festival bracelets made by Syrian Mothers

Photos by Alpkhan Photography

West Kent local music event Livestock 2016 will be using funky festival bracelets that are lovingly made by five mothers who fled Syria.

This year Livestock want their festival to help “families both locally and abroad” fundraising for two local voluntary groups Fegans and Meeting Need. They also wanted something special for this year’s event that meant buying a ticket will not just fundraise but also directly help displaced people. One of the Livestock founders has been a regular volunteer in the Calais refugee camp and together with the other founders wanted to make this idea come alive at their event.

Each person attending the festival will be given a bracelet that is hand made by Syrian mothers.

Depending on which of the five colours the festival goers receive they will be made by one of the five women who are currently based in Istanbul. Displaced by the conflict in Syria the women are part of a livelihood support and skills development offered by our partner Olive Tree Crafts.

Earlier this year, from creating a bespoke product at the World Humanitarin Summit, we met and have subsequently partnered with the Olive Tree Crafts to develop a special friendship bracelet for Empathy Action kid’s party Action Packs. The partnership has allowed the connection to these specific women and able to work alongside them. Having interviewed them recently we will have a short feature on each of them on our Facebook & Instagram pages building up to this Saturday’s event.

Those taking part in this weekend’s Livestock will not only wear a special product woven and made by these women but also help their family and their dignity. The additional funds raised from the event will go towards helping broken families locally and abroad.

Empathy Action will also be running a stall with other products made from groups working with refugees at the event. For more information about tickets and how to attend Livestock 2016 please visit here.

If you are interested in creating a special product for your event please get in touch.