Winter Aid Drop-off Event
Donations and volunteers needed
We're turning our thoughts to winter, a cold and dark time for us, but for refugees sleeping rough or in temporary housing, it's brutal.
We're urgently collecting aid to be distributed to the residents of Napier Barracks (in Folkestone, U.K.) and refugees living in and around Calais, France.
If you have any of the below items, please bring them to our new warehouse in Pembury between 10am and 2pm on Tuesday 26th or Saturday 30th October.
We also need volunteers to help us to sort the donations. If you’d like to get involved, please pop by during the times above and make yourself known to our staff, who will give you a quick safety briefing and explain how you can help. There’s no need to sign up in advance this time.
We'll be delivering the items to refugees in Napier Barracks and Calais in person, at the beginning of November.
Yes please!
No, thank you
Hats, gloves & scarves
Sleeping bags
Tents & Tarpaulin
Warm Coats (especially men's!)
Small & medium men's joggers, jeans, jumpers, fleeces and hoodies
Boots & sturdy trainers (men's size 7-9)
Children's and women’s clothing (for now - we already have plenty of donations in the warehouse)
Bedsheets, blankets, duvets, pillows
Formal men's clothing
Toys, toiletries, baby items or anything else not listed above!
Background Info
For those of you not familiar, many refugees who arrive in the south of England are now housed in Napier Barracks - a former military facility which had been disused for a number of years. There are widespread reports of substandard and dangerous conditions for those living there, including overcrowding, lack of ventilation, lack of heating, significant fire risks and poor cleanliness. In June, the High Court ruled that the decision to house migrants there was unlawful, however, the Home Office have said use of the barracks would continue.
Refugees reside at the facility whilst waiting for their asylum cases to be heard, meaning there is a maximum stay of 90 days and a high turnover of people. They're always short on men's clothing and warm winter wear is especially important during the winter months.
Across the channel, conditions are no better. Many refugees are forced to sleep rough, as the French government continues their hostility towards refugees.
Makeshift camps are regularly raided by the police, and all belongings confiscated or destroyed, food and drinking water is increasingly difficult to obtain, and aid distributions are heavily restricted. The main need here is warm clothing (especially men's but also for women and children), coats, sturdy footwear, tents and tarpaulin to create shelter.
Find us
RefugEase Warehouse, The Haybarn, Maidstone Road, Pembury, TN2 4AG
Our warehouse is relatively new, we’re working on getting some signage because it’s a little hidden away. For now, please follow the signs for Bruce’s Doggy Day Care - we’re the building next to that! We’re on the right as you come from Tunbridge Wells, on the left if you’re coming from Tonbridge.
Drop-off times
Tuesday 26th October, 10am - 2pm
Saturday 30th October, 10am - 2pm
*Please note that the warehouse will be closed outside of these times, so it won’t be possible to drop-off items at a different time. Please do not leave donations outside - we’ll get in trouble!
