I work for a small refugee charity. Here are some things I think you should think about if you want to offer support to recent arrivals and the organisations that work with them.
By: Bridget Chapman
Tags: Charity, Refugees, Afghanistan, Donations

I work for a small refugee charity. Here are some things I think you should think about if you want to offer support to recent arrivals and the organisations that work with them. Bridget Chapman Aug 22·4 min read

With the current events unfolding in Afghanistan many people are asking how they can help? I wanted to offer some practical suggestions based on my experience of working for a small refugee charity.

Pulling together clothes and other supplies is worthy, but you may be collecting/donating stuff that no one arriving actually needs. Rather than contact overstretched charities to ask what’s needed try taking a look at their website and social media to see if there are any specific requests. The charity I work for simply doesn’t have the capacity for storing and distributing items so we only ask for items that are actually needed at that specific moment. At the moment the situation is very fluid and many charities just don’t know what is needed yet. As soon as they know they will ask — I guarantee it. And please do not turn up at charities with items unless they have been requested. Everybody deserves dignity. When you are sure about what’s needed please only collect items that you would be happy to receive yourself. Ask the people concerned what they actually need if you can. I saw recently someone stating on social media that they were going to donate food items to a recently arrived local family as they were concerned the kids weren’t getting enough to eat. It’s admirable that people want to help but that family may have specific things that they need. Try asking any new neighbours what they need rather than deciding for them what they will be given. It may be that your support with negotiating British bureaucracy is far more valuable to them than a tin of baked beans. Your hobby isn’t always the best way of supporting people. It’s great you want to help and that you enjoy knitting/crocheting/baking etc. but if no one actually needs the things you’re making ask yourself who you’re really doing it for? Perhaps think about selling the items that you make and donating the money to a charity instead. Overwhelming charities with demands as to what they need isn’t useful or helpful. Honestly, I know you mean well, and that’s brilliant. But charities, especially smaller ones, are often really stretched. The charity I work for is getting absolutely swamped with inquiries right now. It’s fantastic that people are so keen to help but every minute we spend responding to those queries is time taken away from supporting the young people we work with. Please take 5 minutes to search and see if you can find the information yourself, then share it so that others are aware too. If you can’t find it then of course send an email, but you may need to be patient for a response. There’s always the need for cash. Some needs just can’t be met by donations of objects. For example the charity I work with is raising money for much needed mental health support for young people traumatised by the recent events in Afghanistan. That’s a genuine and urgent need that we have identified and any cash donated will make a real difference. Of course not everyone can afford to donate but we’ve been hugely grateful to everyone who has shared the link and raised awareness of our initiative. Small regular donations can make a huge difference as it helps charities to know how much they have coming in. If you can afford it identify a charity you want to support and make a small regular donation. Honestly £2 or £3 a month makes a big difference if 50 or 100 people do the same thing. If you have space in your home and can offer a room to a refugee then please register with a hosting charity such as Room for Refugees or Refugees at Home. Registering isn’t a commitment, it’s simply expressing an interest and gives you a chance to find out more. Initial placements are usually for short periods to give both host and guest a chance to get used to how it works. There are some excellent smaller hosting charities working on a local basis. Support good local charities working on the ground in Afghanistan and in your area, particularly smaller ones where your money will go further.

In the UK just some of the charities you could think about are: West London Welcome, The Refugee Buddy Project: Hastings Rother Wealden, Refugee Women of Bristol, Safe in Scotland, Refugee Survival Trust, Refuweegee, Maryhill Integration, Thousand4Thousand, South Yorkshire Migration and Action Group, The Bike Project, Birchnetwork, Aidbox Network, New Routes Norwich, Norwich International Youth Project, Big Leaf Surrey, Phone Credit for Refugees, Upbeat Communities, Southampton Action, The Boaz Trust, Kent Refugee Action Network, Asylum Welcome, Bikes For Refugees (Scotland),Women for Refugee Women, Action Foundation, Art Refuge, Hummingbird, Love 146 , Refugee Education UK, Rainbow Migrants, Young Roots, Haringey Migrant Centre, Hackney Migrants Centre, West End Refugee Service (Newcastle), Refugee Women of Bristol, Bristol Refugee Rights, Suffolk Refugee Support, Daaro Youth Project — I may add to this as I get more suggestions.

In Afghanistan you could think about supporting Afghanaid, Noble Connection, Emergency Relief Afghanistan, Rashid Khan Foundation and, again, I may add to this as I get suggestions. There is also a list here which may be helpful.