Born and raised in Iran, Amir*, 21, has come to the UK as an asylum seeker. He has settled in Sunderland for the time being. He comes from a small, yet very educated, family of four and has previously studied software engineering, but now hopes to one day be able to study Media. […]
Tag: refugees
Group of North East aid workers travel to France to deliver donations from the region
A group of aid workers from the North East have travelled to two French cities to deliver donations from the region to refugees. The trio, made up of Taz Maqsood from Sunderland, Louisa Taylor from Blyth in Northumberland and Sabbir Islam from Whitley Bay, went to Calais and Dunkirk to hand […]
EXCLUSIVE: Sunderland lecturer hoping to head to Dunkirk refugee camp damaged by blaze
A Sunderland lecturer is hoping to head to the Grande-Synthe refugee camp in Dunkirk, France, after it was destroyed by a blaze. Jane Elizabeth Hetherington, who works at Sunderland College, teaches English to speakers of other languages in the city. As well as this, the 57-year-old is a volunteer with Refugee Biryanis and […]
EXCLUSIVE: North East solidarity seekers and aid workers to sleep out in South Shields to raise funds
A group of North East solidarity seekers and aid workers will be sleeping out in South Shields to raise funds for a volunteer’s forthcoming aid mission to support refugees in Northern Greece and Serbia. The group are supporting Ruhi Loren Akhtar’s mission, to the European countries, which will take place on […]
Whitley Bay woman knitting hats for Syrian refugees
A Whitley Bay woman has begun knitting hats for Syrian refugees. Beccy Owen began knitting two years ago to help with depression and anxiety and has now said she is “addicted.” She knitted hats for Refugee Aid Network UK and is now making them for Knit For Peace. Ms Owen […]
Container full of North East donations heads to Syria
A container full of donations from the North East has begun its journey to Syria to help refugees in need. Boxes Of Hope filled with donations from around the region and the rest of the UK were collected. They were prepared for individuals, mainly children, with a variety of gifts inside. Medical aid, food […]
Sunderland aid worker urges people to create boxes of hope for Syrians in need
A Sunderland aid worker is urging people in the North East to create boxes of hope for Syrian’s in need. People can get involved in creating the boxes by following the instructions created by the charity. Once the box has been created you can contact the appointed person within […]
Sunderland church welcomes refugees from around the world
Refugees from around the world have been made welcome by generous residents of Sunderland. Those fleeing war and political turmoil have been provided free meals and encouraged to participate in community activities by Sunderland’s churches. Bethany City Church, an Evangelical Christian church in Sunderland, began giving support to refugees 10 years ago […]
LISTEN: North East musicians help record unofficial Team Refugee anthem for Olympics
North East musicians are among a group of people who have recorded an unofficial anthem for Team Refugee who are at the Rio Olympics. Bethany Elen Coyle, from Newcastle, and Sinéad Livingston, from Rookhope, travelled to the All Hallows’ Church in Leeds to join more than 200 people from across the […]
WATCH: Sunderland asylum seeker talks the importance of National Refugee Week
Video and words by Stela Taneva and Pamela Bilalova Asylum seekers, refugees and members of the community celebrated the end of the 19th National Refugee Week in Sunderland Minister – despite Brexit vote and anti-immigration protests in Newcastle just the day before. Chris Howson, one of the organisers, said that […]