Thousands of desperate Afghan families have been arriving to the UK in recent weeks under official resettlement schemes. Many are currently quarantining in hotels near arrival airports.
Many organisations within the MCB’s membership network and wider British Muslim communities have been supporting efforts in providing emergency aid and relocation assistance in recent days. Below is a non-exhaustive list which is being added to regularly.
Collections and donations by mosques and charities
- Canterbury Mosque is providing basic needs such as clothes and shoes to families quarantining at a hotel in Kent as part of a project with Canterbury City Council
- Warrington Islamic Centre are collecting a range of items and working with local charities such as Care UK
- York Mosque is collecting items such as board games, arts and crafts together with Refugee Action York. The mosque subsequently ran out of space to store the donations received.
-
-
- Working with the charity Islamic Relief, Palestinian restaurant Baity in Manchester has donated 900 free hot meals, see here and here.
-
-
- @solma_ahmed
-
- @BaityDidsbury
-
- Dunfermline Central Mosque is collection donations and liaising with local councillors for Afghans arriving in Fife.
- Several mosques in Leeds are arranging drop-off points for clothing.
- Penny Appeal provided funds to a local council to assist with purchasing clothing, toys, educational items and travelcards.
- Colchester Mosque dropping off items with Refugee Action Colchester. Not taking more donations until further notice.
- Luton mosques are working with partners in Watford, see here and here.
- Al-Manaar – www.almanaar.org.uk/help-afghan and https://almanaar.org.uk/afghan-refugees-visit-to-al-manaar/
- Sleaford Islamic Centre, working to supply donated items to local Scarborough charity. Not taking more donations until further notice
- My Foster Family is organising a talent pool of individuals who can support unaccompanied minors, refugees or asylum seekers, register here. Click here to view full webinar organised by My Foster Family:
- Jannah Foundation clean clothes collection in North London, collection point is at the Sri Lankan Muslim Community Centre (SLMCC) in Harrow:
-
Additional Resources
- MCB’s 5-Step Guide to Welcome Refugees for mosques
- The Muslim Charities Forum (MCF) has produced a Refugee Response Guide for individuals and community groups looking to help
How else can I help?
Donating funds:
Many Muslim-led charities have launched emergency appeals to support aid distribution for displaced families in Afghanistan or Afghans arriving to the UK:
Donating goods or volunteering:
As well as many mosques listed above who are arranging collections:
- The ACAA (Afghanistan and Central Asian Association) runs a drop in centre in West London open Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 5pm, offering for free and professional advice on housing, benefits and entitlements, health, education, employment and more. Visit: www.acaa.org.uk and twitter.com/A_CAA
- The Afghan Community & Welfare Centre Walsall based in the Midlands is collecting children’s items, household items and food, visit: www.facebook.com/Afghan.CW
- Afghan Association Paiwand Ltd is recruiting volunteers and collecting donations in North London, visit: www.facebook.com/paiwandAA
- Care4Calais have set-up multiple drop off points nationwide, visit:
www.care4calais.org/thedropoffmap - The UK Government Website outlines a range of programmes and charities supporting Afghan families arriving to the UK, including British Red Cross, Save the Children, UNICEF, Oxfam and World Food Programme, visit: helprefugees.campaign.gov.uk
This page is being continuously updated. If there are other initiatives you are aware of, please get in touch here to let us know. Page last updated 26/9/2021.
Click here to read more about wider initiatives for Welcoming Refugees including campaigns by Citizens UK and Together with Refugees.