Caritas gives thanks for generous support for Afghan refugees
Friday 3rd September 2021Caritas Diocese of Salford has issued a statement of thanks for the very generous response of our parishes in supporting Afghan nationals who have been evacuated to our diocese.
Staff at the charity been heartened by the donations and support they have received, and thanks to your generosity, the immediate need for items on the list has lessened.
Caritas is now focused on listening to the authorities to understand what the needs will be for the long term.
Its focus will now shift to supporting the long-term resettlement of individuals and families including the support they will need to integrate into the local communities in which they find themselves, to learn English and to find training and work.
If you would like to assist in this vital medium and long term support of refugees which the Caritas Salford team carries out all year round, please consider making a donation.
Donations of items already collected can still be made to any one of the drop off locations listed on the Caritas website. The team will regularly update this page as the situation continues to develop.
What can I do to help?
Since the situation escalated several people have contacted Caritas Salford to ask what they can do to help.
PRAY
While pointing to the work of humanitarian organisations, and efforts to welcome refugees as signs of hope, Bishop Declan Lang, on behalf of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, has urged Catholics to pray for the people of Afghanistan, placing our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ in the knowledge that he will not abandon the people of Afghanistan.
Please remember especially those Christian communities and charity workers still working in Afghanistan and those refugees and asylum seekers already in the UK and consider the trauma and the fear they are experiencing for their families and friends back home.
GIVE
The rapid evacuation from Afghanistan has meant leaving everything behind. Your parish can support evacuees by making a donation or supporting our fundraising for the Afghanistan Refugee Crisis Fund. Funds raised will be used to provide support for those arriving and build up funds to help with long-term resettlement. You can use the link below or contact our fundraising team by telephoning 0161-817 2250.
Click here to donate online now.
ACT
1. Write to your MP using our template letter below (with thanks to Asylum Matters for their draft template). Make your voice heard and tell your MP how respect for refugees is vital to protecting their human dignity. Click here to find your MP.
Click here to download our template letter and write to your MP now.
2. Establish a Community Sponsorship Group – it is unclear at present whether resettled Afghans are eligible for this scheme but this is a proven, well-established and effective way of welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating refugees into life in the UK. For information on how to establish a Community Sponsorship group in your parish or local community, please contact our Co-ordinator by emailing info@caritassalford.org.uk.
3. Get in touch to Volunteer with Caritas Salford on any one of our projects to support refugees and asylum seekers.
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