Sir Mo Farah named as special guest for Bristol event refugees week

Sir Mo Farah is among the line-up of a special event celebrating Bristol’s refugees this week. ‘The Welcome Party’ will take place at The Mount Without on St Michael’s Hill this Thursday (November 7) with the celebration promising to “provide a platform for inspiring stories of success from migrants and refugees”, including the Olympic champion himself.

The special guest will be the headline act for the evening with an interview that will delve into his story, beginning with his arrival in the UK as a young refugee. In addition to a line-up of impactful speeches, the event will also feature a captivating African Table Dance performance by Grace Ekall, as well as jazz from the West Coast of Africa and classical music from Palestine.

Guests can also enjoy a ‘diverse culinary experience’, with a menu representing authentic cuisine from Sudan, Afghanistan, Egypt and Sri Lanka, crafted by refugee catering partners. Tickets are said to be very limited, and start from £140 per individual seat

Against the backdrop of the historic venue, host MoYah will guide attendees through a night of ‘powerful stories, inspiring talks and vibrant entertainment’. The Welcome Party will be presented by Burges Salmon, supported by Curo Group, YTL Group, City of Bristol College and Guild of Guardians, and hosted by the Bristol-founded provider for refugee and migrant integration services ACH.

The event will commence with a warm welcome from its chair, Museji A Takolia CBE and the evening’s interviewees will include Oona Goldsworthy, chief executive of Brunelcare, and Kara Bolland, head of people partnerships at Brunelcare – who will share insights on how integrating diverse talent has positively impacted their organisation; Mohammad Alizay ‘Daud’, procurement officer at Brunelcare, who will recount his personal journey and the support that led to his career growth; and Elham Fardad, CEO and founder of Migrant Leaders, who will present her experience and the initiatives Migrant Leaders undertake to foster leadership and development for young migrants.

As part of the event’s ‘commitment to fostering an inclusive workforce’, The Welcome Party will also spotlight The Welcome Pledge – a ‘pioneering initiative championed by employers dedicated to supporting refugees, asylum seekers and migrants’. Launching in 2025, The Welcome Pledge outlines a set of actionable commitments aimed at creating fair and supportive employment pathways for newcomers.

Signatories commit to practices like equal recruitment opportunities, tailored workplace resources including language and mentorship support and efforts to build culturally inclusive environments. Through this, employers also pledge to advocate for policies that protect and uplift refugees and migrants, working in collaboration with community organisations to pave the way for a more diverse and equitable workforce.

Fuad Mahamed, CEO of ACH, said: “The Welcome Party is not just about celebration but about showcasing the wealth of talent, resilience and leadership that refugees and migrants bring to our communities. We are honoured to have individuals like Sir Mo Farah and Elham Fardad share their stories, alongside key representatives from organisations like Brunelcare.

“This line-up embodies our mission to build connections, foster understanding, and inspire everyone to see the incredible potential within the migrant and refugee community.”