As part of our collaboration with the Refugee Council, Kellie from their destitution centre in Hackney told us how The Charity Shop Gift Card will help people that they are supporting.
Who does the Refugee Council support?
We support around 13,000 people a year. This includes men, women, unaccompanied children and families. We support in a range of different ways, including with housing and destitution support, assistance with finding employment, and therapeutic support.
In your experience, what personal items do refugees and asylum seekers arrive in this country with?
The needs of the refugees and people seeking asylum that we work with vary greatly depending on which route they have arrived with. Those that come via a government resettlement scheme may come with more personal possessions than those who have arrived by Channel crossing, for example. Most of the refugees that we support in our destitution centre have no access to public funds, and some are living in homeless shelters or sleeping on the streets or on night busses. They often have limited possessions, some only carrying a backpack.
How do they currently gain access to essential clothing etc, children’s items?
At the destitution centre we rely on donations – we rely on grants from organisations or other kinds of donations. Sometimes when people donate items such as clothing, it isn’t in very good condition, which is a problem. When organisations give out vouchers, they are usually only for supermarkets, which is quite limiting.
What items are most needed by the refugees and asylum seekers you support?
Winter clothing is always essential – mainly winter coats and shoes. Trainers, jeans and jumpers are always useful as well. These are basic items that can make a real difference. For those that are sleeping rough, a sleeping bag and a backpack can be invaluable.
How will you use the gift cards that we obtain through the fundraiser?
The Charity Shop Gift Card will be given to individuals that we support, so that they can have the autonomy to choose the items that they want from charity shops on the High Street. Some of the refugees that we support do not have access to public funds, and these cards could be a real lifeline for them. For others who do have access to benefits, it can take ages to set up an ID card for the benefits to actually arrive, and in the meantime accessing essential items can be a huge challenge.
What difference do you think receiving a charity shop gift card will make to refugees and asylum seekers?
It is a wonderful concept because it is such a personal matter to be able to pick your possessions. Some would love to go to a shop and buy something. They can get incredible value for money in charity shops as well, and pick high quality items for a fraction of the price. But most importantly, they have the freedom to choose – this is really important.
As part of our collaboration with the Refugee Council, Kellie from their destitution centre in Hackney told us how The Charity Shop Gift Card will help people that they are supporting.
Who does the Refugee Council support?
We support around 13,000 people a year. This includes men, women, unaccompanied children and families. We support in a range of different ways, including with housing and destitution support, assistance with finding employment, and therapeutic support.
In your experience, what personal items do refugees and asylum seekers arrive in this country with?
The needs of the refugees and people seeking asylum that we work with vary greatly depending on which route they have arrived with. Those that come via a government resettlement scheme may come with more personal possessions than those who have arrived by Channel crossing, for example. Most of the refugees that we support in our destitution centre have no access to public funds, and some are living in homeless shelters or sleeping on the streets or on night busses. They often have limited possessions, some only carrying a backpack.
How do they currently gain access to essential clothing etc, children’s items?
At the destitution centre we rely on donations – we rely on grants from organisations or other kinds of donations. Sometimes when people donate items such as clothing, it isn’t in very good condition, which is a problem. When organisations give out vouchers, they are usually only for supermarkets, which is quite limiting.
What items are most needed by the refugees and asylum seekers you support?
Winter clothing is always essential – mainly winter coats and shoes. Trainers, jeans and jumpers are always useful as well. These are basic items that can make a real difference. For those that are sleeping rough, a sleeping bag and a backpack can be invaluable.
How will you use the gift cards that we obtain through the fundraiser?
The Charity Shop Gift Card will be given to individuals that we support, so that they can have the autonomy to choose the items that they want from charity shops on the High Street. Some of the refugees that we support do not have access to public funds, and these cards could be a real lifeline for them. For others who do have access to benefits, it can take ages to set up an ID card for the benefits to actually arrive, and in the meantime accessing essential items can be a huge challenge.
What difference do you think receiving a charity shop gift card will make to refugees and asylum seekers?
It is a wonderful concept because it is such a personal matter to be able to pick your possessions. Some would love to go to a shop and buy something. They can get incredible value for money in charity shops as well, and pick high quality items for a fraction of the price. But most importantly, they have the freedom to choose – this is really important.
