So, we're headed out to Calais to do some of that volunteering malarky ... !!

Calais hasn’t been in the media much since the jungle was destroyed – but refugees are still there. Living in inhumane living conditions, and trapped by regressive migration policies (quote - UN). These people have had to leave their homes due to war, conflict and persecution, they deserve our compassion, not the aggression violence and neglect our governments are showing them.

I'll be working as part of Refugee Women's Centre's amazing small team.

Their aim - "Our purpose and aim is to ensure close support for female refugees residing the region. Every day we are on the ground, where people are living and staying, spending time with them, organising activities, fulfilling their material needs, and connecting them to professional organisations for more specialised needs (medical, legal, or psychological). Recognising that “basic needs” includes mental health wellbeing. We serve as a moral support, and create spaces that are dedicated for women to feel comfortable, whether their wish is to talk to someone or to be left alone." https://www.dunkirkrefugeewomenscentre.com/

As a long term volunteer I'll be providing basic care to women + children sleeping rough around Northern France, carrying out censuses to identify vulnerable persons, working with the local associations, coordinating donations and maintaining the centre as a safe space for women to gather.

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Matt will be working as part of the warehouse team for HelpRefugees.

A little about them - "Help Refugees is the leading UK NGO in a new movement of humanitarian aid. Acting where governmental and other non-governmental bodies are unable to, we are working to fill the huge and terrifying gaps in services for those displaced by war in Europe and beyond. With no bureaucracy and minimal overheads, every pound we raise can be traced to its tangible impact on the ground". https://helprefugees.org/

He will be sorting donations, demonstrating his considerable chopping skills in the kitchen, and helping with distribution. Good ol' hard manual labour.

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Both charities are amazing and urgently needed. It is these grass-root movements, supported by people like yourselves, that are keeping people alive. We would love to be able to go out there in July with a hefty contribution from the people we know and love - SO DIG DEEP.

Thank you!

(The reason it's not linked directly to a charity is because we'd like to split the proceeds between both charities we're volunteering with, and you can't link it up to two - rest assured it will be sent once we've reached the target)