Organised by Story
Walk In Their Shoes: A Journey You’ll Never Forget
Every day, thousands of families are forced to make impossible decisions — to flee home with nothing, to trust strangers, to cross borders with only hope in their hearts. Desperate Journeys invites you to take that journey with them — not as a bystander, but as a participant.
An Experience That Changes You
Led by Empathy Action in partnership with Sevenoaks Welcomes Refugees, Desperate Journeys is an immersive, 90-minute theatre experience that brings the refugee crisis to life. Participants walk in the shoes of a refugee family, navigating dangerous checkpoints, making life-or-death decisions and feeling the tension, fear, and small moments of hope that define their journey.
With a passport and a handful of (fake) money, audience members are guided through a maze-like set — a vivid recreation of the disorienting, uncertain path many refugees take. Every detail is drawn from real-life testimonies, case studies, and consultations with people who have lived through it.
Not Just a Show — A Call to Compassion
Desperate Journeys is more than a powerful educational tool. It is also a call to action.
Funds raised will support the ongoing delivery of this experience and directly aid refugee families rebuilding their lives in the Sevenoaks district — helping with housing, education, language support, and community integration.
“Thank you so much for yesterday. It was BRILLIANT... I think it had a real impact on the students!” — Secondary school teacher after a session
Help Us Keep Telling These Stories. Every little helps.
We’re asking you to walk with us. Every pound you give makes a difference. Both Empathy Action and Sevenoaks Welcomes Refugees are 100% volunteer-run. That means every gift — big or small — goes directly to making Desperate Journeys possible and supporting the resettlement of refugee families in our community. We truly couldn’t do it without you.
During Refugee Week 400 people took the Journey with us
The experience ran from 16–20 June, with the support of the Mayor of Sevenoaks and Sevenoaks Town Council. Primary and secondary students, cubs, scouts, guides, teachers and police officers joined us. With your help, we can go on bringing these vital stories to life — and continue building a community that welcomes, understands, and stands beside those forced to flee.
About the Organisations
Sevenoaks Welcomes Refugees is a registered charity providing comprehensive support to refugees throughout the entire resettlement process in the Sevenoaks district.
https://www.sevenoakswelcomesrefugees.org/
Empathy Action is a registered charity creating immersive experiences and workshops that foster empathetic understanding of the people behind global humanitarian crises.
https://www.empathyaction.org/