The Jungle, the Calais refugee camp, is described as “grim, wet and muddy”. A group that's planning a visit from Bitterne Park is appealing for donations at the Ascension Centre on Sunday, January 24 and Tuesday 26 – writes Karen Armstrong.
Following a previous visit, a group of volunteers from the Ascension Centre are going to the Calais ‘Jungle’ camp on Saturday, January 30. There is some good stuff happening there, like art school and library tents (below).
And some people are building shops and restaurants, to feed everyone as a community:
The charity that we are visiting is a Southampton based charity called ‘Miracle Street’. Alistaire from ‘Miracle Street’ is living on the camp, and has become the local bike repair man:
There are some young boys on the camp, who have been given bikes by a British charity (this is Hossan, age 11). Our local bike shop ‘RideRide’ has kindly offered to give Alistaire some ‘bike bits’ to help him fix their bikes.
Generally though, it is pretty grim and wet and muddy.
When people’s clothes and shoes get wet, they can’t get warm or dry.
Our plan is to take as many people’s washing to the launderette to be washed and dried as possible (we are only going for one day). There are no laundry facilities on the camp.
As we are going in a van, we want to take donations too. This is where you can help. If you would like the opportunity to donate some things, this is what is most needed at the moment:
Clothing and sleeping gear
- Underwear (new!) socks and pants
- Jogging bottoms and leggings
- Hoodies or fleeces (not woolly jumpers as they get wet easily and become useless)
- Coats and general winter wear
- Shoes and wellies
- Sleeping bags/blankets
- Rolling mats
Toiletries
- Shampoo, Conditioner, baby wipes, toilet rolls, toothpaste, sanitary towels
Food
- Cereal Bars
- Tinned foods
Also, any Euros to use in the launderette would come in very handy.
It would be amazing if you could donate any or some of the above goods. We are collecting at the Ascension Centre on:
Sunday January 24, 2-6pm
Tuesday January 26, 5-8pm
Please bring any donations directly to the front entrance of the Ascension Centre; you can stop in the lay-by on Cobden Avenue (opposite Tesco).
Thank you so much.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please call me on 02380 672634 / 07770 180470
Words & pics: Karen Armstrong
Previously
Audio: Huge response to goods for refugees appeal at St Denys
Link
The horror of the Calais refugee camp: ‘We feel like we are dying slowly’ - Guardian