Refugees & Rowntrees

In the Spring of 2026, we undertook a project to explore how the Rowntree family, company, and Trusts supported refugees across the twentieth century.

We focused on three stories. The first was about the help and support offered to Belgian refugees during the First World War in York.  The second focused on Jean and Tessa Rowntree’s humanitarian work in Prague ahead of the Nazi invasion. The third part looked at the resettlement of Ugandan Asian refugees in York during the 1970s. Throughout the project, The Rowntree Society collaborated with refugee groups and communities in York, bringing past and present experiences together.

• In the Summer of 2026, we worked with Inkblot Films to make a short documentary for our Youtube channel.
• The project cumulated in an event at The Mount School as part of Refugee Week York 2026.

More content from this project will be coming soon!