Our Impact in 2021

Local officials are unable to respond to the needs of such a high number of people in the region. We provided one month’s funding to No Name Kitchen for their impactful voucher project enabling up to 600 people a week to shop and cook based on their preferences.

In order to facilitate individualised support to displaced women, the Refugee Women’s Center are facilitating women-only afternoons at a day centre in Calais as well as distributing warm clothes to those in need. We supported their winter distributions and activities for women and families in the area.

Not having another nappy to replace a used one is a daily heartache for many refugee mums and dads leaving them little choice but to watch their baby suffering. On behalf of The Refugee Charity Network we funded 6000 nappies, facilitated by Pampiraiki, to alleviate stress and discomfort.

As temperatures regularly drop below zero at night and rarely above five degrees during the day, demand for winter clothes increases. We provided a grant to Collective Aid to re-stock the most needed items including hats and gloves, and men’s medium jumpers and trousers.

At long last Μαζί / Together /معاً have secured premises! We were only too happy to provide funding for two months rent and utilities which then gave them security for at least a year. They are now forging ahead with activities including art club and art therapy, mentoring, self-defence and more.

Due to BREXIT and COVID there have been fewer volunteers who, until now, have been critical in bringing large quantities of medical supplies with them. As it is also difficult to ship from the UK we funded Medical Aid for Refugees and Displaced People three months of medical supplies that they will buy in France.

With COVID changing the rules and the safety conditions of something as simple as food services, we provided funding for three months worth of takeaway equipment to ensure Wave - Thessaloniki could continue to serve upwards of 3,700 meals during each of the coldest winter months.

As Greece enters another uncertain winter of cold temperatures, rising electricity costs and unknown COVID impacts, we provided funding for heating to ensure Action for Education can consistently provide education and play in Athens and Chios.

As electricity prices rise steeply there was concern for the winter warmth of seven rental apartments in Athens for the birth and first 12 months of new babies’ lives. We secured funding at the start of winter so that CRIBS International could confidently warm their homes keeping 18 new families safe.

Our phones are our lifelines. To people displaced it’s the difference between being in touch with family and accessing essential services, or not. We’ve funded running costs like cables and generator fuel for two months so that Refugee Info Bus can keep their services benefitting 450 people a week.

The Greek Government is taking away more and more support from refugees leaving thousands without access to food or cash cards, or with woefully insufficient basic rations. On behalf of The Refugee Charity Network we provided funding to foodKIND to distribute 1,000 food packs over one month.

Young refugees are missing out on computer literacy which is undoubtedly a key skill in today’s world. Connection Hub saw the growing need and responded with a computer literacy and online safety project. We supported them with funding covering costs like refugee teachers’ expenses, stationery and student bus tickets.

With a van that was starting to be off the road more than it was working and usable, the need for a replacement was urgent. We provided funding to foodKIND to replace their hard-working van with a bigger model able to carry both food supplies and volunteers. Our funding covered registration costs too.

The “outreach community” refers to those staying outside of formal accommodation due to marginalisation or feeling especially unsafe in camps. We provided funding to Collective Aid to support the outreach community with food vouchers redeemable in local shops for their dignity in being able to choose their food.

The population of refugees in the Caen/Ouistreham area of France are facing a cold winter. To help them survive SOS Chai were granted funding for cold weather kits - backpacks full of warm thermal clothes including hats, gloves, socks, fleece jackets and more, for at least 90 people.

This year saw relations at the Poland-Belarus Border grow critical. Stuck in a no-mans land between the countries are hundreds of people struggling to survive. When Refugee Biriyani & Bananas said they were going to see for themselves, raise awareness and do what they could to help, the least we could do was support them with funding for aid.

We understand that buying a loud speaker may not be conventional “humanitarian aid”, but who wants to be conventional? For those going to these Hip Hop 4 Hope classes, each class is a lifeline; class-mates are family, the dance is their escape, the music their heart beat. And they needed a speaker.

At “The Flat” in Athens their are 16 young men (and two cats) sharing a 3-bedroom Apartment to support them as they move towards independence. Last year the heating bill was eye-watering, so this year One Human Race were advised to provide electric blankets to keep the bills down. We hope it works!

Within their baby health programme at Perigiali Refugee Camp, there are 11 families unable to breast feed their babies for various reasons. We provided funding to Northern Lights Aid for three months’ baby food formula, along with baby food mixers, to assist these parents weening their children onto solid foods.

Asylum support is a complicated yet life-changing topic making communication critical and reliable interpreters worth their weight in gold! We provided funding to the Asylum Seeker Information Services Team for interpreter expenses and other running costs for a month servicing 120 clients.

The costs of a van don’t stop when you buy it with the expenses of registering, insuring and taxing it soon mounting up. We provided funding to Yoga and Sport with Refugees to cover these costs enabling them to expand their gym and take it “on the road”.

Greek summers are hot, regularly exceeding 30 degrees (86 F) and sometimes 40. So imagine working in a busy kitchen cooking 1000 meals a day? We provided funding to Project Armonia for an air conditioning unit (and towards increased electricity bills) to support their volunteer team during the hot summer months.

Mo Chara is a former RNLI life boat who has been serving search and rescue missions in the Aegean for the past five years. Now with Sea Eye 4 in the Central Med, she urgently needed maintenance. We provided funding to Refugee Rescue for a full re-fit including reinforced sides and new bow protection.

With the previous van aging and starting to cost a lot to maintain, the team at Roots sought a replacement that was also big enough to support new projects such as their “hot water shower project” - transporting shower cubicles to and from camp. Having raised most of the money, we funded the balance.

With COVID changing the rules and the safety conditions of something as simple as food services, we provided funding for one months worth of takeaway equipment - a new cost they incurred to ensure Wave - Thessaloniki could continue to serve upwards of 3,700 meals each month.

Young refugees are missing out on computer literacy which is undoubtedly a key skill in today’s world. Connection Hub saw the growing need and responded with a computer literacy and online safety project. We supported them with funding costs like refugee teachers’ expenses, stationery and student bus tickets.

Following five months of unprecedented low and then high temperatures (2021 saw devastating forest fires across the region), Duniya House - which was home for 40+ people at the time - received a large electricity bill. We supported Finding Refuge by funding this one-off need.

Not only is sport a lifeline to those taking part, but in the case of local competitions like this relationships between communities are strengthened. So we were only too happy to fund Yoga Sport with Refugees running team’s participation in this Lesvos competition.

Another law/rule change in Greece and suddenly people previously stuck on Chios, were able to travel to the mainland. Our partner Refugee Biriyani & Bananas saw the need for luggage and so we supported buying suitcases and backpacks to make onward journeys a little more comfortable and dignified.

Many people on the move in Bosnia & Herzegovina are living outside official camps. Near Bihać our partner Refugees Welcome Portugal are supporting. This grant is for 440 food vouchers which can be spent by voucher recipients at a local grocery store.

Whilst on a visit to Athens, our partner Refugee Biriyani & Bananas fit in an aid run to old friends at the Lavrio Camps. This grant provided staple foods including 120 boxes of 30 eggs, 720 packs of flatbread and 120 boxes of washing powder.

350km west of Calais lies Presqu’ile de Caen and the Port of Ouistreham. Here, 60+ young boys (many are teenagers) are living homeless in squats or tents. We funded our partner, SOS Chai, to buy clothes and new trainers, as too often they get only second-hand donations, and rarely do they get shoes.

We awarded this grant to Hip Hop 4 Hope who are starting a brand new project for up to 75 refugee youths age 10-18 living alone or with family in Athens, Greece.

It’s funding their share of the rent for 5 months on the practice space they’re taking in partnership with local dance crew, Wavomatics.

We awarded this grant to Eudaimonia Medical Services supporting their medical translation services in Lesvos, Greece.

It’s supporting 10 volunteers in providing medical, isolation and vaccine information and translations in response to the second wave of COVID in the Lesvos RIC (refugee camp), as well as food, water and other essentials for those in isolation.

We awarded this grant to Just Action supporting their work on the island of Samos in Greece.

It’s paying for food packs for sexual based violence cases, single parents, people with a second rejection regarding their asylum request and/or people that received a residence permit.

We awarded this grant to CRIBS International to support their work in Athens, Greece.

The funds will be spent refurbishing a flat to be used as a special and safe space for CRIBS-accommodated mums, babies and families to receive social, educational and clinical services.

Collaborative NGO Better Life with Refugees needed a new van to continue helping and supporting refugee families and other NGOs in and around Athens.

What better way to honour the memory of our dearest friend and colleague; a man who in life always coveted a van!

This money was generously donated in Loving Memory of Brian Donnelly 01/08/1946 - 28/03/2021

Can you imagine life without your phone? Neither can we. Which is why we funded Refugee Info Bus daily essentials like phone charging cables and generator fuel for up to one month as they support people in recharging their phones, accessing information, and more in northern France.

Living conditions in The Balkans are extraordinarily hard for refugees and, when you add harsh winter weather, a person’s very survival is in jeopardy every day. We provided funding to No Name Kitchen to provide warm clothes and help people survive.

Free restaurant in Samos, Project Armonia, responded to increasing people in need of their daily food by investing in new kitchen equipment, but that in turn proved too much for the old electrical system. We provided funding to upgrade the kitchen’s switchboard providing consistent, reliable power again.

As demand increased, our friends at Better Life with Refugees needed to expand and take on bigger premises. We provided initial funding and rent for them to move across the road and set up a “free shop” and help more people.

As increasing numbers of people living in the Vathy Refugee Camp had State support withdrawn, the demands on Project Armonia increased. We funded an industrial blast chiller that enabled them to cook more the previous day and store food safely overnight.

The people living in the Lavrio Camps are almost entirely unsupported by the State. They rely on charities in Athens to kindly bring them supplies when they can. We funded a Lavrio food run by One Human Race providing popular foods like eggs and sugar.

Greek homes are seldom fitted with central heating and yet winters are surprisingly cold. Staying warm can be a big and expensive concern. We funded the winter heating bills for Finding Refuge keeping 40 men, women and children warm and safe.

People living in Chios are increasingly struggling to access one of the most basic needs for life. Food. We therefore supported Refugee Biriyani & Bananas to provide food packs for as many as 600 people. Each pack containing staple food, requested by the people, of flour, sugar, tea bags, salt, rice and cooking oil.

In Samos the number of people needing extra support was rising and Just Action - Samos sought to extend their service and provide food packs to those who’d suffered sexual violence and single parents. We supported them with a grant for food, whilst all hygiene items in the packs are donated.

Following BREXIT family reunification routes to the UK were all but closed. Old processes no longer well understood came back into play. We funded Refugee Legal Support - Athens for their “islands project” allowing a small team to go to Lesvos and share knowledge and carry out training in these processes.

Too often over-looked, dental pain can be excruciating and have a big impact on quality of life. Thankfully our friends at One Family No Borders, with our partner Refugee Biriyani & Bananas, set up a project on Chios to help people get the relief from pain they needed. We were happy to contribute.

Ask any parent what they want most for their children and they will answer education. We provided funding to the Habibi Center for their running costs and all-important exam fees so that those students with enough continuity in their education could sit internationally recognised exams.

Long journeys, limited support and regular police violence sets the scene for people crossing Serbia. Most end up sleeping rough in abandoned train wagons, houses or perhaps a tent. We supported Collective Aid in providing food support to 200 people per week over three months attempting to survive these conditions.

With hot food freshly prepared for the estimated 400 children age 4-11 living in Vathy Refugee Camp, volunteers had no choice but to set off on foot to take the food to camp. We funded a van so that We For kids could take the meals quickly and easily to camp to be enjoyed whilst it was still hot.

Until winter 2021 the French authorities had provided some sort of shelter for women, children, families and the most vulnerable from November 30th and through the winter. In 2021 there was no shelter. With freezing conditions, snow suits were urgently needed to keep the youngest children from freezing.

Grown locally, two tonnes of tangerines were being donated. We supported Refugee Biriyani & Bananas with a grant allowing them to take the opportunity to supplement the tangerines with more fresh fruit and vegetables,and add a “sweet treat” for each food pack too.

Winters in Serbia are freezing cold and people are living in tents. We supported Collective Aid in buying 500 each of thermal trousers and boxer shorts, 300 jogging trousers, 1000 pairs of socks and 2000 washable face masks to benefit 500 people over 2-3 winter months.

Although COVID meant offices being closed to clients, demand for services increased. As a result we supported the Asylum Seeker Information Services Team with additional funding for increasing costs including interpreter expenses, assisting clients with mobile top-ups and travel to sign over power of attorney.

The continued need to supply waterproof jackets throughout winter was further compounded by increasing police confiscations in the area. We supported Collective Aid with funds for 350 jackets which was enough to see through on distributions throughout January.

Lockdown conditions were making life even tougher than normal for the 60 or so mostly boys/young men in this region of northern France. We supported SOS Chai in making up “Cold Kits” for them. Bundles wrapped in a thermal hat with a couple of extra treats for Christmas. They were given with sleeping bags and more.

Little is more important during cold European winter months than keeping warm. We supported One Human Race in covering the winter heating bill at “the flat” housing 16 people (and Layla the cat) in Athens, heating for the women’s shower project and firewood for those squatting in disused factories in Patras.

With temperatures dropping below zero items were sought that can provide warmth to people surviving winter in informal settlements. We supported the Refugee Women’s Centre in buying much requested kettles to warm over a fire, hand warmers, emergency blankets, and more.

Sometimes small simple acts can make a big difference. In this case the addition of bunk beds to the Duniya Housing project almost doubling the occupancy potentially supporting another 20 people out of street homelessness. We supported Finding Refuge in making this quick and simple change.

Due to the impact of COVID and three camp lockdowns, operations were forced to adapt several times which in turn impacted the budget. We supported foodKIND with extra funds to ensure their hot food service could continue in the cold winter months benefitting 700-1000 people.

Despit e working with all their housed families to reduce bills, and providing energy efficient heaters, the winter heating bill for 48 people - all small families or single mums with babies - needed to be paid. We provided a grant to CRIBS International covering the costs.

Due to the national COVID lockdown in place since October, services had to be moved online. As the winter set in the apartments and centres hosting the teachers were unbearably cold. We supported Action for Education with a grant for heating benefiting 40 teachers and hundreds of students.