In response to the Afghanistan crisis, Merton Giving is signposting residents, who would like to offer their support, to make donations via one of three routes; by directly supporting charities who work locally to help refugees forced to flee their country, by donating to Merton Giving’s dedicated Refugee and Migrant Appeal or to support relevant national charities.
Charities whose work support the resettlement of refugees locally in Merton include Afghan and Central Asian Association and The Salvation Army. It is possible to make a donation direct to each charity via their websites. Merton Council has made a £15,000 donation to Merton Connected, partner in Merton Giving, to distribute to these charities working locally. This donation will complement other local efforts as part of a borough-wide charitable fund to support organisations which are working locally to help people arriving in the region after evacuation.
The Merton Giving Refugee and Migrant Appeal has been established to collect donations for local charitable organisations supporting refugees & migrants who will make Merton their new home. Funds donated via the appeal will be held & distributed at a later date via a grant giving fund, details to be announced. Donations can be made online here.
National charities supporting the crisis include the British Red Cross which has launched an emergency appeal to help people suffering in Afghanistan raising funds to support their work in Afghanistan and Afghanaid which is responding to provide urgent, life-saving assistance to men, women and children in Afghanistan who have been affected by the conflict and providing humanitarian aid. The International Rescue Committee is also providing humanitarian aid on the ground.
Merton Giving Chair Diana Sterck said: “Many of us have watched the devastating scenes unfold in Afghanistan and want to know what we can do to help locally. We are pleased to be able to signpost local residents who want to help to the relevant charities so they can make direct donations. The Merton Giving Refugee and Migrant Appeal has been set up to provide a focal point for donations.”
Simon Shimmens, CEO of Merton Connected said: “Local organisations in Merton have been receiving kind offers of support to help, including clothing, food and equipment. There are existing community partnerships working to support refugees so we are asking residents instead to make donations to relevant local and national organisations or to the Merton Giving Refugee and Migrant Appeal. We’re pleased that Merton Council has made a £15,000 donation which Merton Connected will distribute to charities working locally to support refugees”.
**Update** Following the news that The Charity Commission has announced a statutory inquiry into serious governance concerns identified at Care4Calais we have removed the charity from our list of suggested charities to donate to
