The first of two 40 foot containers was sent off from Rochdale to Aleppo in Syria on 22nd December. It contained warm winter clothes, food, medicine, medical equipment, nappies, etc – all donated by hundreds of people and businesses from the region. The second container will be going to Aleppo in early January.
Upper Calder Valley, which received so much kindness and help from total strangers this time last year in the aftermath of the Boxing Day flood, donated many clothes. Continue reading
Nearly 400 people attended the Welcome Festival on Saturday 29th October at the
Birchcliffe Centre in support of asylum seekers and refugees. Most of the performers on the day were refugees. There was a famous Syrian singer and his daughter coming from Bournemouth, the Songo Drummers Project, the Harmony Choir from Leeds and Dave Nelson and Charlie Carr from Hebden Bridge. For the children there was also face painting, arts & craft activities and making figures out of balloons. Continue reading
On Saturday 29th October, Calderdale Freedom from Torture and Together We Grow are hosting a Welcome Festival at the Birchcliffe Centre in Hebden Bridge, for Calder Valley to welcome refugees. The Festival is from 1.30pm to 4pm.
The organisers would be very grateful for sponsorship towards covering transport costs for asylum seekers and refugees to come to this event, and providing them with a free lunch and refreshments. Around 80 refugees and asylum seekers are expected, from Halifax, Rochdale, Leeds and Sheffield. Continue reading