Carlisle Refugee Action Group

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CRAG's AIMS

  • To provide practical support for people living in refugee camps and resettlement situations.
  • To raise awareness about issues faced by refugees/asylum seekers in order to bring about practical and political solutions.
  • To support refugees/asylum seekers living here and abroad.
  • To engage in fundraising to support the work of Carlisle Refugee Action Group.

How our group was formed

At the end of August 2015, following a visit to the Calais Refugee Camp by a couple from Brampton, and prompted by increasingly distressing images of the plight of refugees in general - particularly drowning children - Carlisle Action Carlisle (now Carlisle Refugee Action Group) was formed from concerned local people and co-ordinated and supported by Carlisle One World Centre and Sustainable Carlisle. A call went out for donations to help alleviate this developing humanitarian crisis, and the people of Cumbria responded by offering clothes, food, tents, money and their time as volunteers here at home and in the camps. The outpouring of support was tremendous! Soon a dedicated group of volunteers was sorting out the tonnes of donations coming in and preparing to get them to the refugee camps. The Op-Shop chain, Carlisle City Council and the Diocese of Carlisle all helped support the project with offers of premises to work in, and links were built with other organisations and charities to ensure help could be directed to where it was most needed.