Providing haircuts and phone charging in Calais

‘Care4Calais is truly unique in that we spend time getting to know the guys here. It’s the reason I came and it’s the reason I’ve stayed – you get to know them as friends.

The services we provide are the best part of the job. Being able to provide a fresh haircut lets the guys maintain dignity, identity and self-worth.

The guys give haircuts to each other and some are professional barbers. On a sunny day, the atmosphere can be amazing. Everyone is playing games, drinking tea, chatting and when we come back next week it’s like seeing old friends.

However, on a rainy day, it feels so bleak and is a huge reality check for us all. All the guys are waiting for their phones to charge in the rain huddled under a tarpaulin. You remember how mobiles are a literal lifeline.

A guy I met today has two brothers who have fled to Italy and Scotland. Sadly, he doesn’t know if he’ll ever see them again. That’s what is so heartbreaking about the situation. He’s desperate to see his brothers again but because home is not safe and they don’t have the rights to travel, they have no idea if this will ever happen.’

– Josie, volunteer.