Many people I talk have no idea what is taking place just across the Channel. The refugee crisis in Europe is rarely in the media now and people think it has resolved. But nothing has changed in France. If anything it has worsened and people need our help.

Back in the Spring, I met a 70-year-old old man who had travelled thousands of dangerous, exhausting miles from Afghanistan in an attempt to be reunited with his wife and children in England. I met a young Kurdish woman, alone with her baby, trying desperately to reach her husband in London. I met a young boy risking his life every night to find his brother in Birmingham. All had been living in the Dunkirk refugee camp. But in April this year the camp was completely destroyed by fire. It burnt for 2 hours before the fire engines were allowed in by the authorities.

Spring and summer have passed and we are heading through autumn towards winter. Dunkirk can be dismal and cold in the kinder months let alone winter, but the French State refuses to let the mayor of Dunkirk, Damien Carême, build another humanitarian camp.

Just twenty miles from my home in Broadstairs hundreds of men, women and children, who have fled war, conflict, persecution and even torture, are living out in the open. They shelter under trees and bushes, many without shelter, all without clean running water or toilets. What little they have in the way of tents, tarpaulin, blankets and sleeping bags are regularly taken or destroyed by police. Even water and nappies are sprayed and rendered useless by CS gas. It is hard to get my head around the reality of people being treated like this just 20 miles from my own home.

Friends who are aware of the situation say they would like to help but don’t know how. But you can help. Please donate and support my work with the Refugee Women’s Centre (RWC).

I am heading out at the beginning of November to volunteer with the Refugee Women’s Centre who used to be based in the Dunkirk refugee camp. Since the fire the team now run a mobile outreach operation.

The team go to the woodland each day with their van and provide clothes, blankets, hygiene products, bottled water, small items of food and other specific items where possible. They provide a safe space for the women to rest, to have a cup of tea and to meet and chat with other women. The team also help put the women in touch with legal advice e.g. concerning asylum issues. They give lifts to the hospital for medical help and organise activities like English lessons, craft sessions and little pamper sessions.

While Refugee Community Kitchen provide a cooked meal each day and fresh water, the RWC try to support the women holistically and provide some emotional support. Stress, boredom and fear are exhausting and soul destroying.

I will support the girls in whatever way is needed e.g. with distributions, driving etc. I will also offer simple hand and foot massage, and Story Massage for the children. Story Massage is a fun and interactive positive touch therapy for children. I hope to teach the mothers so they can give a Story Massage to their children, and to the children so they can share it with each other. Mary and I did this back in March and they loved it – particularly the children.

I am taking some urgently needed items with me, but my car is tiny. Financial donations are far more practical and would be hugely welcome. I can see what the situation is when I get there and buy what is most needed.

Thank you so much for reading this. And please help if you can. Come with me!

Or

Please donate to my JustGiving page and help me to offer a little comfort to these refugee women and their families. Every penny will go towards items needed to meet their basic human needs. Thank you so much ☺