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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Rose Troup Buchanan

7 ways British people are actually helping refugees right now

Refugees outside a train in Bicske, near Budapest, Hungary (Getty)

Hundreds of thousands of people across the country have been offering help, in whatever form they can, as the clamour to aid refugees grows.

Facebook groups and online campaigns have sprung up following the publication of a photograph of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi, a dead Syrian boy who washed up on a Turkish beach.

A Google map showing collection and drop off points for donations across the UK and Ireland lists more than 200 locations. But individually, people have been trying to make a difference.

Offering a barn

Anthony Trimble, from Dromore, Northern Ireland, has offered his barn to Syrian refugees “indefinitely” after seeing images of Aylan.

Offering accommodation

Katie Lou, from Middlesbrough, is banding together with friends to take in refugees. “We are mothers and are absolutely heartbroken for other mothers trying to get their children to safety and them dying as a result,” she said.

Collecting items to donate

Rebecca Novell, a councillor from Lancaster, is one of many who set up a Facebook group to collect items for refugees. “My inbox was flooded with people offering their homes to host donations as well as their time to pick things up,” she told The Independent.

“Seeing the photo of little Aylan washed up on the beach was a wakeup call in terms of actually doing something."

READ MORE: Celtic vow to donate proceeds from charity match
More than 200,000 sign Independent petition calling for Britain to 'take its fair share'

Collecting children's clothes to donate

Victoria, from Basingstoke, has organised a collection for children’s clothes in her area. She plans to take the clothes to Kos. “I’ve never done anything like this before,” she admitted.

“I'm a mother, seeing that picture of a toddler drowned broke my heart,” she said.

Synagogue seeks private landlords to take in refugees

Organisations have also offered their help. In London, the Finchley Progressive Synagogue is looking for private landlords to take 50 Syrians in Barnet.

Football club raises funds for migrants

Dulwich Hamlet Football Club has organised a fundraiser for refugees in Calais, with members of the club intending to transport the donations in October.

Setting up sim cards

Michael Schiewzl has been setting up sim cards for Syrian refugees, allowing them to contact their families once they reach safety.

The offers of help come as The Independent’s online petition reached more than 200,000 signatures.

Click here to sign The Independent's change.org petition

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