Care4Calais

Who we are

Care4Calais is a volunteer-run charity delivering essential aid and support to refugees living in the UK and Northern France. We believe in a fair society, and advocate for a welcoming and inclusive attitude towards refugees.

Operating year round, our focus is to provide warm clothing, shelter, and daily essentials to people in desperate need. We also provide social support and interaction, including language lessons, sports and various interest groups.

We are not politicians; we are ordinary people like you who believe that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity.

We use our on-the-ground presence within refugee communities to identify the most pressing needs and to provide much-needed help.

We also work with research and media organisations to advocate for a welcoming and inclusive attitude towards people seeking safety.

We have hosted thousands of volunteers, politicians, journalists and campaigners at our centre in Calais, and are involved in a number of campaigns aimed at influencing the public’s perception of people seeking safety.

Volunteer with us

Our incredible volunteers support more than 5000 refugees and people seeking asylum across the UK and northern France. They offer their time to collect and distribute essential items and provide social support, and to help in many other different ways, from replying to messages, to fundraising and admin.

You don’t need any particular life experience to help. We are looking for people who are empathetic, anti-racist, and reliable; background doesn’t matter.

What you’ll get out of volunteering for us

Volunteer with Care4Calais in the UK and you’ll be working with some of the most caring, compassionate, motivated people in the world.

You’ll also learn new skills. All new volunteers go through our training programme, which has been praised by others working in the charity sector.

The programme includes:

• Safeguarding
• Introduction to our work and the refugee sector/UK asylum system
• Training in distributing aid
• Suicide prevention
• Age dispute claims
• Legal access

You will meet amazing people, and get to understand at first hand the stories behind the news item that is so often misrepresented by politicians and the media.

“I had never thought about the impact I could make as an individual person before I volunteered with Care4Calais. But when the people I’d supported began thanking me for the difference I’d made to their lives, it made me realise how important this work is.”

Courtney, Volunteer

Ways you can help

You can help in a wide variety of roles across the UK – everything from face-to-face support for people seeking asylum, to logistics and more virtual, admin-focused roles. You can be based anywhere, and do as much time as works for you.

Annabel’s story

Annabel raises £800 for Calais Light by completing the Wales Three Peaks Challenge

Annabel comes from Dudley in Birmingham and is a Housing Officer.  Over the last few years Annabel has been passionate about the crisis in Calais but never knew how to help or volunteer.  She recently came across Calais Light on Facebook and contacted us.  Annabel decided she wished to come on our convoy in September as it allowed her to volunteer for a weekend which fitted in with her job/life and also be with like-minded people.  But first, Annabel decided to do some fundraising for Calais Light.

Annabel wanted to do something out of her ‘comfort zone’ – she is not particularly sporty  – so decided on the Wales Three Peaks Challenge on 14^th September with 3 friends.  She did not find it easy – in fact it was a huge struggle but she completed it.  51 people sponsored her – it was an amazing achievement.

Annabel says ‘it was a huge challenge but nowhere near as much of a challenge as it is for refugees on a daily basis.  The refugee crisis is not going away we need to act now and help these people in need to fight for their human rights.  Every person has a right to be safe and I am sure if this happened to any of you, you would hope someone would rescue you and your family’.