A LIFE-changing group is looking for a home to help boost its efforts to support refugees worldwide
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The Highlands Support Refugees has volunteers from Moray to Shetland but no permanent premises.
It is now on the hunt for a site in Inverness or within 15 miles of the city – and donations have regrettably been stopped while the group seeks somewhere to store and sort items, after reaching capacity. Secretary James Shewan emphasised how important its work is and how a building would help.
“Over the past seven years The Highlands Support Refugees have sent over 200 tonnes of aid thanks to the generosity of people across the Highlands and Islands, who time and again donate,” he said.
“The refugee crisis continues to worsen across the world and refugees continue to camp out in awful conditions for months and sometimes years.”
“In order to continue to collect, sort and send aid, we need to find a home for ourselves. We are keen to hear from anyone who might be able to share or offer sole use of a building within around 15 miles of Inverness.
“In recent months a combination of Brexit and Covid have caused us to delay multiple shipment’s of aid to refugees in camps across Europe. This has meant putting a hold on the collection of donations and spending large sums of money on container rental fees at a local storage unit.
“Equipped with a premises, our charity could collect, sort and store more aid. This would allow us to continue to take the very generous donations which are regularly offered from across the Highlands.”
The group, formed in 2015, collects donations such as toiletries, baby bottles, sleeping bags, tents, nappies, and clothing, which they then ship to refugees across the world to help them rebuild their lives.
Destinations have included Dunkirk, Calais, Chios, Lesvos, and most recently Bosnia.
The group has also had great support from Inverness and Nairn MP Drew Hendry over the years, who previously helped them find storage premises.
Mr Hendry said: “The group represents all that is great about our communities. These dedicated and selfless volunteers offer some light and much-needed aid to people fleeing the very worst of circumstances and I will do all I can to help them in their efforts to find new premises.
“The fact that they need a permanent base is a testament to their efforts and the support of families across the Highlands to help refugees across the globe and those who have found their new home here in Scotland.”
Not only do they send out necessities, but also raise awareness and involve the community in issues surrounding inmigration.
In November last year, the group organised a vigil in Falcon Square to remember the 31 refugees who drowned in the Channel that month.
People gathered with signs and messages of support and remembrance with the aim of encouraging the media, government and local people to take action to prevent further unnecessary deaths.
