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THE WLS DROP IN NEEDS YOU!
Since January 2012 volunteers
from West London Synagogue
have been running a monthly Drop
In centre for destitute families
seeking refuge in the UK from war
or religious or political persecution.
All of the people we help have been
denied asylum, often for technical
reasons that have nothing to do
with the merits of their case. They
are allowed by law to remain
pending appeal, but they’re not
entitled to benefits or the right to
look for work.
We believe that as Jews, we have a
particular call to assist refugees.
Through the ages, we have
benefited from the benevolence of
people of other faiths who gave us
vital assistance when we faced
persecution and extermination.
Moreover, we benefit as a
community by joining in common
purpose to help others whose
plight mirrors that of our ancestors.
FACT: Many of the asylum seekers
we see are highly educated, with
advanced degrees or professional
qualifications. Many lived in middle
class neighbourhoods in their home
country and had lives that would
seem familiar to any of us.
The families we see come from
trouble spots around the globe:
Syria, Eritrea, Sri Lanka, Congo,
Nigeria, Algeria, Zimbabwe and
more.
Today, many of them have no fixed
address, and many are homeless.
Our Drop In provides a mooring,
familiar, friendly faces and a few
hours’ respite from simply trying to
get by. We enjoy welcoming back
families month after month, and
watching the children settle in
among friends they see only when
they come to us. More families find
their way to us each session, and
as government support for refugee
services are cut, we expect to
welcome many more in the months
ahead.
FACT: Nearly all of the parents we
help speak between two and five
languages. They do not conform in
any way to the tabloid depiction of
asylum seekers. They are here only
because they are in desperate fear
for their lives.
You might think that looking after
families who are in such grave
circumstances would be a grim
business. But at the Drop In
Centre, we celebrate what people
can do for one another. The
prevailing mood is upbeat and
purposeful, hospitable and
convivial.
WHAT WE DO:
We prepare and serve fresh
nourishing food, and we hand out
essential items these families can’t
afford to buy for themselves, such
as nappies and toothpaste. We also
have doctors and social workers
available to provide guidance, and
we compile and distribute lists of
other facilities providing assistance
to refugees.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
There are many ways to support
our Drop In Centre, from donating
nappies, rice and clothing (in good,
wearable condition) to underwriting
the cost of meals for a session, to
volunteering to pitch in at the
centre on the third Sunday of each
month.
Keep in mind that all of our
volunteers were once first-time
volunteers, so inexperience is no
impediment to full participation. We
are there to support each other as
much as to assist the families to
come for our help.
For more information, or to offer to
help, contact us at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
WE CURRENTLY NEED:
Please bring in any unwanted
clothes for children aged 2-10
years old. Bring to Reception, 33
Seymour Place W1H 5AU, marked
‘Drop-In Centre’.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
- Sunday 30 September
- Sunday 21 October
- Sunday 18 November
- Sunday 16 December
At 1.30pm at St. Marylebone
School at the top of Marylebone
High Street.
Please let us know via the doodle
link - http://www.doodle.com/
mnvi94tw79ekimte - whether you
will be coming.
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