Introducing Steve Smith MBE, Care4Calais’ CEO
Today we’re proud to introduce Steve Smith MBE as the CEO of Care4Calais. Steve joins us after spending many years doing incredible and much-admired work to help refugees and the victims of armed violence around the world. Having begun his career as a military officer, he has made it his personal mission in life to help people suffering in the ways that he has seen first hand. “Having served in several war zones, I know what it’s like to be shot at, and to see bombs going off nearby. I know what it’s like to be afraid. “But I always …
Thank you, Clare
Eight years ago, Clare Moseley read a story about refugees in Calais, and cared so much that she immediately went to France and began helping them as a volunteer. As a volunteer she worked all hours, every day, and stayed on in Calais for months. Eventually she founded Care4Calais, a charity that would enable thousands of other volunteers to care for refugees just like she did. Without her, many of the most vulnerable people on earth would not have had food, clothing, shelter, legal support, friendship, or restored dignity. And we, the team at Care4Calais would not be here now …
An announcement from our founder
After seven and a half years, I am leaving Care4Calais. When I first arrived in Calais I had no intention of setting up a charity; I could not have imagined one which now supports thousands of people seeking asylum in the UK as well as refugees in northern France. Over the last few years I have been proud to volunteer alongside so many fantastic people who support some of the most vulnerable in our society. I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart. I also want to thank everyone who has donated, whether money …
The Illegal Migration Bill and the politics of fear
This week the House of Commons passed a new law that is terrifying in its potential. The Illegal Migration bill will allow this Government to detain and forcibly deport thousands of refugees, simply for having the temerity to ask for asylum in the UK. Its restrictions on people’s rights are truly chilling. The consequences will be appalling, but we must first understand how it came to pass in the first place. Its roots lie in the Brexit campaign’s politics of fear. In 2016, Leave campaigners instilled a terror of migration with billboards showing 1,000s of refugees supposedly marching supposedly towards …
Refugees abused and attacked in Knowsley
“The gang attacked me when I was out walking in Liverpool with my friend. First they shouted insults, and when we didn’t do anything, they spat on us instead. When we still did nothing, they threw a heavy bike at our backs. “Then we ran for our lives.” “My name is Fadi, and I am 20-year-old Syrian refugee. Until recently, I was living in the Suites Hotel in Knowsley on Merseyside, which was attacked in February. “My ordeal happened a few weeks after that. My friend Abbas and I were walking near some shops when we noticed five men watching …
Refugees flee war in Sudan
Like countless Sudanese people living outside the country, our friend Khalid is terrified for his family. His parents and sister have left their home in Khartoum and are travelling to seek shelter with relatives in another city. “Their home was on fire as they were leaving their street. They couldn’t stay in Khartoum because there is no water, no electricity, no medicine, no safe place anywhere. “Even in cities where there is no fighting, the war makes people desperate because there is no food, no resources of any kind. Yesterday I called my mum and said I would send money …
Meet Mick, walking to Palestine for refugees
This is our volunteer Mick. Today he began an incredible and brave journey on behalf of refugees. Having finished volunteering in Calais, he set off on a 2,200-mile walk to Palestine, all to raise awareness to raise awareness of the suffering of refugees – and of Palestinian refugees in particular. Along the way he’ll be meeting with trade unionists and campaigners and asking them to walk and talk with him for an hour or so. It’s such an amazing thing to do, but typical of the dedication of Mick, who’s passionate about caring for refugees, and has been volunteering …
Meet Karam, our amazingly social volunteer!
Every weekend in Nottingham, something amazing happens. We have a big, get-together for dozens of refugees and volunteers. It’s either at a park or community centre, and it’s like a party that makes everyone feel happy and welcome for days. Last week I asked someone how it got started. The answer, as is so often the case in the Midlands, was simply “Karam”. Karam coordinates Care4Calais work in the East Midlands, and she’s amazing. It’s not just the huge amount of work she does, it’s also the way she inspires people and brings them together. No Care4Calais group in Nottingham …
Introducing our new CEO, Steve Smith MBE
Care4Calais is delighted to announce that our new CEO, Steve Smith MBE, will be taking up his position next Tuesday, 11 April. Steve joins us after seven years as Chief Executive of the International Refugee Trust, and prior to that being Chief Executive of Action on Armed Violence. Steve has worked all over the world, frequently in conflict and disaster zones where he has coordinated responses to significant movements of refugees, including the Vietnamese boat people and Kosovars during the Kosovo crisis. He also managed the UK’s aid response to the 1988 Nepal earthquake. He sits on the Board of …
Alaz’s story
The first time the authorities in Kurdistan threatened me, they sent people close to me to deliver threatening messages. They hacked my Facebook account three times. It was worrying, but I kept doing what they hated, which was speaking the truth. I was a journalist, and I was exposing the corruption of political leaders. That’s what journalists are meant to do. But then the threats got more serious. I was arrested and imprisoned for doing my job. Two years later, they came to my home and set it on fire. I was not home but my wife and daughters were. …