Refugee Week 2026: North Street campus celebrates fifth annual International Day

Our North Street campus marked its fifth annual International Day during Refugee Week 2026.

The event on 16 June brought together our students alongside staff from Leeds City College’s parent organisation, Luminate Education Group, as well as local organisations and civic leaders in a celebration of culture and inclusion.

International Day at North Street

International Day has become a key event for North Street campus, providing students with the opportunity to share their cultures, experiences, and talents with the wider college community. 

The campus is home to our specialist ESOL provision for 16 to 19 year olds and supports young people to develop their English language skills, achieve English and maths qualifications, and progress onto further education or employment.

The newly appointed Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Steven Holroyd, was in attendance at the event as one of his first community engagement visits following his appointment. 

Representatives from organisations and charities including Forward Leeds, The King’s Trust and My Place hosted engagement stalls throughout the day, providing students with information and opportunities to connect with support services and progression pathways available across Leeds.

Leeds City College students led a range of cultural displays and activities, showcasing food, art, music, and performances from around the world.

This included a staff band, ‘Dance to the Beat North Street’ which formed especially for the event.

An African cuisine and French pastry business, O’delices D’Appo, based in Leeds Kirkgate Market, also supported the event providing food donations so the students could take part in a shared food tasting experience, showcasing dishes from around the world.

During the celebrations, North Street campus was presented with Leeds City College’s Climate Cup, recognising the campus as the college’s most sustainable campus and celebrating its ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable practices.

Student’s award-winning poem

One of our ESOL students, Zahra, who won the Sanctuary Foundation’s Art and Poetry competition, delivered her award-winning poem at the event.

The competition is delivered in partnership with the British Library with winning submissions put on display.

Zahra was invited to London for the Sanctuary Foundation’s prize-giving ceremony on 15 June hosted at the British Library where her poem was announced as winner of the key stage 5 category and read by stage and screen actor Juliet Stevenson.

A successful fifth International Day

The event received positive feedback from staff and students in attendance. 

One North Street campus student said: “We have a lot of countries represented here. It’s very multicultural. We’ve eaten some nice food with our friends and had a great time together.”

As North Street campus celebrates five years of International Day, planning is already underway for next year’s event.