22 Nov 2022

Redcliffe homes support for refugees and asylum seekers

Members of Cotham-based humanitarian organisation Aid Box Community have given a behind-the-scenes tour of their hub to Redcliffe Homes, in thanks for their donation of £9,000 given to help them support local refugees. 

Aid Box Community (ABC) - was founded in 2015 by Imogen McIntosh in response to the refugee crisis, a Free shop and Welcome Hub providing support, supplies and sanctuary to hundreds of refugees and asylum seekers in Bristol. 

Mandy Parker, marketing and sales coordinator for Redcliffe Homes, said: “I recently paid a very humbling visit to their Bristol Hub where I met Sam, who volunteers there.  

“Sam used the services of Aid Box Community when he first came to the country two years ago. He told me he didn’t need clothes or shoes, but what he did need was the hug the charity gave him and the care and love he was missing which made him feel he belonged. 

“Hearing this personal story from Sam himself really brought home to me the importance of the work Aid Box does. 

“The hub gives refugees somewhere to go when they need support in any form. We are only too pleased to support such vital work, which offers a real lifeline to many of their 3,378 service users.” 

Imogen McIntosh said: “Redcliffe’s donations are going towards helping run the hub, providing transport for our service users to get to all the services we provide and supporting local refugees set up their new lives. 

“The recent Ukrainian refugee crisis has stretched our services so any extra support is always a great help to us.

“The Bristol community has been a vital force in providing these services and empowering us, and donations like the one from Redcliffe Homes obviously make an enormous difference.”

ABC provides a range of services, from a Free Shop and welcome hub where they provide a choice of free, quality items donated by the public - from clothing, toiletries, and toys, to household and electrical items. They provide many wellbeing and community-building activities such as sewing, yoga, arts & crafts, cycling, football, and swimming. ABC also run a connection programme bringing together refugees who may feel isolated and seek friendship and community. 

Further details on Aid Box Community can be found here: https://www.aidboxcommunity.co.uk/ 

Charities supported by Redcliffe Homes have included Disasters Emergency Committee, Youngminds and Action For Children, The Salvation Army, Mind, local foodbanks, WWF, Barnardos and Julian House.  

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