A new photographic exhibition in Knaresborough will give visitors the chance to hear directly from refugees who have settled in North Yorkshire, sharing their stories of leaving home, starting again and building new lives in the area.
Under One Sky brings together photographs and first-hand accounts from 29 refugees living in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and Nidderdale.
Each participant was photographed and interviewed using the same set of questions, talking about their journeys, their experiences of settling in North Yorkshire and their hopes for the future.
They were also invited to choose an object that is precious to them and share its story as part of the exhibition.
Sue Eland, Project Co-ordinator and Refugee Mentor, said:
During the interviews we were often moved to tears. It was truly humbling that these brave people felt they could trust us with their stories.
We hope that anyone visiting the exhibition will go away with a better understanding of what it is like to have no choice but to suddenly leave your family, your home and your country, and make a new life in a very different culture.
For most of us, we will never be faced with a situation where we have to do this.
The exhibition aims to show the people behind the statistics around refugee resettlement and highlight the connections being made between refugees and the communities where they are now living.
From a coffee in Pateley Bridge to an exhibition
The idea began with a conversation over coffee in a café in Pateley Bridge.
Project co-ordinators Sue Eland and Sue Parsons were listening to one refugee talk about their experiences and noticed their growing confidence. They began to consider how other refugees could also be given an opportunity to tell their stories.
That conversation developed into a year-long project. Following a successful proposal to North Yorkshire Council, and with support from local organisations, Sue and Sue began finding participants through refugee groups and classes across the area.
Photographer Laura Mate and graphic designer Anna Cleary subsequently joined the project to help turn the stories into a public exhibition.
Refugees settled in North Yorkshire
Figures from North Yorkshire Council show that, as of March 2026, 2,372 people had been settled in North Yorkshire through refugee resettlement schemes.
- Homes for Ukraine: 1,687
- Afghan Resettlement Programme: 505
- UK Resettlement Scheme: 180, mainly Syrians alongside people of Iraqi, Kurdish and other backgrounds
The figures are from Jonathan Spencer, Senior Resettlement Officer at North Yorkshire Council.
Under One Sky exhibition
Under One Sky will be exhibited atGracious St. Methodist Church, Knaresborough, from** Friday 30 October to Wednesday 4 November 2026**.
The exhibition will be open from 10am to 3pm each day.
Admission is free.
The project has received support from North Yorkshire Council’s Resettlement Scheme Grant/SWIFT, Harrogate and Knaresborough District of Sanctuary, Ripon District of Sanctuary and Knaresborough Town Council, alongside local organisations and businesses.