At 6pm on Dec 22 we will be performing some festive songs and Christmas Carols. We are fortunate in our circumstances to be able to live without fear in towns and cities in the UK, that we feel safe in our homes and can work in the professions that we studied long and hard to be experts in. Across the world, people have had to flee their homes in fear, leave jobs they love, give up everything they had through no fault of their own - Aid Box provides support to some of those people seeking asylum in Bristol. Please share some of your wealth to help others less fortunate.

All donations made through this page will be matched by my employer, Microsoft UK.

More information on Aid Box Community:

Aid Box Community provides support, supplies and sanctuary to refugees and asylum seekers at the community Hub in Bristol, including those fleeing the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan. It is place to relax, seek advice and make new friendships. Refugees can access donated clothes and living essentials from their “free shop”. This helps reinstate dignity by providing choice, so that people can reflect their identity and feel a sense of self-worth and pride. With just over £5 a day provided by the government to buy food, toiletries and clothing it is an essential resource.

Here are some examples of the difference that your donations could make:

£500 could fund 100 bus journeys for people seeking asylum to travel to and attend ABC’s groups and activities, reducing the sense of isolation that many can feel.

£3,600 could fund a year’s worth of essential supplies that we have to buy new, such as toiletries, nappies and underwear that people can choose from our Free Shop.

£7,500 could fund our Women's Group for 3 months, providing a safe and welcoming space to come together, connect and take part in activities such as yoga, sewing, swimming or cooking.

£5,000 could keep our Hub and Free Shop running for a month. This is the heart and the engine room of Aid Box Community, ensuring we can continue to collect, sort and make available clothes, household items and essential toiletries to our service users who can choose what they need with dignity.

There are so many stories and quotes from the people they support, but this one that was shared with them last week from a woman who attends our Women’s Group,. “I feel much better now, like I’m alive.” It says it all I think.

Thank you for your support and Merry Christmas!