This week in the UK: 'We're in this together': Food deliveries continue over the bank holiday weekend
This week in the UK: 'We're in this together': Food deliveries continue over the bank holiday weekend
As the country continues to adapt to life in lockdown, people around the UK are continuing to mobilise to help the vulnerable in their community, including refugees and asylum seekers.
Each week highlight some of the inspiring work being done by individuals and community groups across the country, and how you can get involved to help.
This week, Rossella Pagliuchi-Lor, UK representative to the UNHCR, wrote about the challenges facing asylum seekers and refugees during the current pandemic, and how the current crisis highlights issues in the current asylum system that can be addressed.
Spotlight: Sheffield community group scales up operations to make protective equipment
Sheffield BAMER (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee) COVID-19, a group set up by community members has been delivering hundreds of food parcels to the city’s most vulnerable.
Next, they plan to make 10,000 masks and face shields for key workers at care homes and staff at Sheffield hospitals.
The group is looking for £5,000 in donations for materials to help make the masks – you can donate to their appeal here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/facemaskappeal
In Brent, an emergency food drive ran across the bank holiday weekend
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With the message ‘We’re in this together,’ residents of Brent in London received food parcels from the Iraqi Welfare Association.
The parcels, delivered mainly to the elderly, single mums and refugees in the area, contained fresh produce from a local supplier, as well as two pairs of gloves and two masks for each household.
Emad Al-Ebadi, director of IWA and a former Brent councillor, said the group aims to increase the number of deliveries from last week, and had a target of 500 this week.
Veg for the vulnerable
Léa Chaouchi, co-owner of Ceres Veg Box said: “It's important to help vulnerable people during this time and a lot of our customers have cancer or severe illnesses, can't leave their homes or are elderly.”
The service is also donating their perishables to Aid Box Community, a Bristol charity for asylum seekers and refugees, who then distribute it to those who are vulnerable.
Goods for Good
An organisation used to working in crises abroad, Goods for Good, have adapted their model to helping communities here in the UK. Whilst they usually assist with humanitarian crises in other countries, during the Covid-19 lockdown they are using their expertise to help the vulnerable in the UK.
Goods for Good are delivering supplies, such as food, toiletries and sanitary products, to workers on the NHS frontline.
The charity is also supporting the Trussel Trust foodbanks, and providing doorstep parcels of essential items to refugee and asylum seekers in Barnet and surrounding areas.
ARTconnects
Award winning artist and activist Salma Zulfiqar will be hosting an ART Connects workshop to promote wellbeing and solidarity. To be held on April 20th, participants are invited to share cultural experiences whilst creating artwork to help address anxiety surrounding self isolation and Covid-19.
The workshop is aimed at refugees, asylum seekers and people who are in self isolation and want to connect with others.
The event is free and although it will be led in English, basic translations will be made available in several languages, making it open to everyone.
To register, please click here.
UNHCR joined one of Art Connects online sessions: Read more and see the artwork