Changing the hostile narrative on migration

Run, Walk, Welcome is a collaborative project that aims to change the hostile narrative on migration and create a more inclusive society by bringing runners, walkers and people with a forced migration background into conversation while enjoying the outdoors. It is a collaboration between King’s College London, Kendal Mountain Festival and everyone who participates in the project. We welcome you to join us by attending our workshops and continuing the discussion outdoors on a group run/walk.

The project will consist of a series of workshops and runs/walks that are intended as spaces for mutual learning, reflection and understanding. The workshops are open to everyone who is interested in running/walking in the outdoors and changing the hostile narrative on migration. We especially welcome people with a (forced) migration background to join the conversation.

Together we will seek to reshape the narrative through our conversations and by generating creative outputs for a broader audience such as photography, film, words and art.

Banner image © 'Walled Citizen' (2020 Festival film)Right image © 'Mahmood' (2022 Festival film)

The project will begin with an online participatory workshop on Wednesday 30 July at 6pm, opening the conversation on how to change the hostile narrative on forced migration through reflecting on our experiences of movement. We will get to know one another and discuss how we understand and use concepts such as movement, borders, walls and exhaustion. The workshop will also function as a brainstorm session for how to shape the project together.

Following the online workshop will be an in person workshop in Grasmere in August, and further opportunities to get involved at Kendal Mountain Festival in November.

For further project information and to register for the online workshop please visit the link below: