Today we hear from new volunteer Martin who is running a marathon in aid of our charity. Please do help by sponsoring Martin - with many thanks! gofund.me/f5a30b46b Check the news on our website to find out more. @refugeestogether.bsky.social

Please could you nominate us for the £1000 draw in the Community category of movementforgood.com - link in bio This would help us with much needed funds to help refugees in Hertfordshire! Thank you so much! #benefactgroup

"You made a huge difference in my life" Read more feedback from this refugee engineer and others at www.hertswelcomes.org.uk/feedback-fro.... #refugeeswelcome @refugeestogether.bsky.social

"I have always believed that it is our duty as a community to welcome and support vulnerable, defenceless and voiceless people seeking asylum" wise words from our Trustee Julian - to join our team: [email protected] www.hertswelcomes.org.uk/volunteer-st... @communities1st.bsky.social

What are your New Year's resolutions? Join us and make a difference to the lives of refugees in Hertfordshire: contact [email protected] #RefugeesWelcome #makeadifferencetoday

We received some lovely thank you messages from asylum seekers who received Christmas gifts lovingly assembled by our volunteers: - see more feedback from those receiving essential vouchers at www.hertswelcomes.org.uk/feedback-fro... To join our team contact [email protected]

Thank you from us all, and we look forward to your continued support for refugees in Hertfordshire in 2026 🧡

www.hertswelcomes.org.uk/news/christm... with thanks to all who help us welcome and support refugees in Hertfordshire

www.dontsendmeacard.com/ecards/chari... - there is still time to send beautiful e-cards, save on stamps and help us continue to welcome and support refugees in Hertfordshire! DontSendMeACard.com

‪Thank you to #oneimpossiblething for the donation of trainers for refugees in Hertfordshire today at the @refugeecouncil.bsky.social Christmas lunch - families were able to pick out shoes for men, women and children. #refugeeswelcome

After school club grows! We are pleased to report that the number of school age children enjoying the club has already doubled. Thank you to the participants for their enthusiasm and to our new volunteers for seeing the need and making this happen. #RefugeesWelcome

"Volunteering with HWR is a very moving and rewarding experience" Read more from our fab new team of volunteers at www.hertswelcomes.org.uk/volunteer-st... To join our team just contact [email protected] @govolherts @communities1st @refugeestogether

Watford-based charity #GOODSFORGOODuk is helping keep local vulnerable people warmly clothed this winter. Our volunteer recently filled her car with generous donations of winter coats for men, women & children. Thank you for keeping these asylum seekers warm and welcome. #refugeeswelcome

Our after school club began last week! Our new volunteers are providing fun games and art activities for secondary aged children. Such an exciting new chapter in providing for the wellbeing of the older children waiting to hear what lies ahead. #refugeeswelcome #showyoucare #safepassage #chooselove

"Thanks for making her day beautiful, she was very happy and surprised" Read the delighted response from this refugee celebrating her daughter's birthday in her newly adapted accommodation: www.hertswelcomes.org.uk/feedback-fro... #refugeeswelcome Thank you to all who helped make this move possible

"My motivation is to give back the support I received". Today we hear from the brilliant Carlos who helps asylum seekers with their English while he waits for his own claim to be heard. #refugeesgivingback hertswelcomes.org.uk/refugees-giv...

“My dream is to live in peace with my family”. The refugee children we support locally made Christmas bells, wrote messages and decorated the tree for the Christmas tree festival in Stevenage at St Andrew and St George: www.achurchnearyou.com/church/7918/

This #welcomeweekend we stand #TogetherWithRefugees to show #CompassionNotCruelty #hopenothate Together With Refugees ChooseLove HOPE not hate Safe Passage International

www.theguardian.com/politics/202... Proud to be a signatory to this open letter #togetherwithrefugees @refugeestogether.bsky.social

"People haven’t felt safe yet, they don’t feel like they have the sense of security, that they initially came and asked for" www.hertswelcomes.org.uk/news/speakin... Pleased to be on news bulletins on #Heartradio this morning #TogetherWithRefugees @refugeestogether.bsky.social

Share the spirit of Christmas by sending beautiful art work by refugees as e-cards to loved ones. Donate the cost of cards and stamps here to send yours 👇🎄😄 www.dontsendmeacard.com/ecards/chari... #DontSendMeACard #christmas2025 #RefugeesWelcome #TogetherWithRefugees

Sew good! A new monthly sewing workshop run by @hertswelcomes.bsky.social and the #refugeecouncil is giving refugees a space to reconnect with a valuable skill, helping them develop their talents to step into employment and rebuild their lives. #refugeeswelcome #sewingproject #sewinglove

This #GivingTuesday in #UKCharityWeek can you help us make a difference to the lives of #refugees who are just starting their lives here? Thank you so much. www.hertswelcomes.org.uk/warm-welcome...

Wonderful for asylum seekers to choose warm clothes now winter is here. Volunteer Annabel reports: “We had around 70 people come to pick out clothes from the many donations. Thanks to @hertswelcomes.bsky.social volunteers and the #CLDS for helping out.” #keepwarmthiswinter #RefugeesWelcome

On #BlackFriday2025 please make a gift to a refugee in desperate need of your help. www.hertswelcomes.org.uk/.../on-black.... Thank you so much for making a difference. #WarmWelcome @refugeestogether.bsky.social #showthelove #kindness

Great to be at #stalbanscathedral recently to share our work with other community and faith groups as part of #InterfaithWeek - to find out more contact [email protected]

www.hertswelcomes.org.uk/news/our-res... "Refugees are just like me and you." Here you can listen to our volunteer Helen discuss the Government's draconian asylum plans and how you can help, with Amir Suleman on BBC 3CR when she and refugee volunteer Layla were on his show. #RefugeesWelcome

youtu.be/JGU86_5EYBQ We're on the BBC radio! Thank you #AmirSuleman for the opportunity to talk about our work, the recent King's Award for Voluntary Service, for refugee Layla to speak about volunteering with us and our response to the govt proposals @refugeestogether.bsky.social #kavs2025

Our latest newsletter is hot off the press! It includes our reaction to the government's latest proposals, real refugee stories & myth-busting, fighting negativity, how to help with our Warm Welcome appeal and our amazing King’s Award. www.hertswelcomes.org.uk/news/our-lat...

Compassion not cruelty: actionnetwork.org/letters/tell... @refugeestogether.bsky.social

Thanks to @Goods4Good and our wonderful volunteers, men and women seeking sanctuary here have been able to choose warm winter jackets as the weather gets colder.

On the day the Government announces plans to erode asylum rights, we support this report and call on the government to take urgent action @refugeestogeher.bsky.social

Exciting news! We are delighted to receive #Kingsawardforvoluntaryservice, thank you so much to all our volunteers who make a difference to the lives of refugees and asylum seekers in Hertfordshire #KAVS2025 #volunteering #refugeeswelcome To join our team contact [email protected]

Sparkles! Volunteer Angie tells us about playgroup this week: “To celebrate Diwali and Guy Falkes we had glittery play dough, sparkly crayons, and danced to the ‘Firework’ song. Loads of fun with the streamers.”

How kind that the collection from this event will be to raise funds for our charity - please support it!

Our volunteer Denise was very happy to report on yesterday’s free shop drop-in at the asylum accommodation. "Thanks to the support of Broxbourne’s church communities, whose donated clothing was really appreciated by families arriving with only the clothes they stand up in.”

We were delighted that art work from talented artists Enas, Bahar, Shervin and Ghazal formed part of the #seekingsanctuary event on Saturday. Read more at hertswelcomes.org.uk/news/trestle... @BeingHumanFest @universityofherts

Puppet fun! These children’s families have been persecuted and have sought sanctuary here. Jester Jim and Hazy Daisy brought a bit of fun and our volunteers came with cakes. It was a chance for the asylum seekers to relax and talk to each other. A girl told us she and her sister were happy here.

"When I left, volunteer Alison was comforting a refugee who was crying with stress. The whole afternoon epitomises the love and courage shown by refugees and volunteers alike." Read more about an afternoon at the drop-in: www.hertswelcomes.org.uk/news/an-afte... #befriendingweek #refugeeswelcome

#befriendingweek #joinourteam #makeadifference #hertfordshire #volunteering #befriending #kindness

Asylum seekers housed in Greater Manchester hotels issue a statement in a bid to stop misinformation.

Thank you to all the volunteers and local people who also collected and donated clothes, to @GOODSFORGOODuk who donated jackets and trousers and St Mary Magdalene Church for allowing us to use the room free of charge. Thanks also to donors from local churches and a nearby Rotary club.

Imagine arriving with nothing but the clothes you stand up in. Our volunteers organised a free shop for asylum seekers. Volunteers Linda and Vicky said that over 40 asylum seekers had been provided with warm clothes. The young men were so grateful and several stayed to help clear up afterwards.

"Our dreams of a better tomorrow may be similar to yours. We hope you will see us not as strangers, but as new neighbours who want to live in peace" We support these words from asylum seekers in hotels: gmiau.org/greater-manc... Thank you to @gmiau.bsky.social

We have been supporting an asylum seeker through a tough time, and she asked us to pass on a donation to to another asylum seeker whose son is undergoing cancer treatment. The generosity from someone who has so little herself is truly inspiring. #kindness #compassion @refugeecouncil.bsky.social

We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded a significant three year grant from the @tnlcommunityfund.org.uk to help welcome refugees in Hertfordshire - read more at hertswelcomes.org.uk/news/nationa... #refugeeswelcome @refugeestogether.bsky.social

Thank you to the brother of Fati, a refugee we have supported, and his colleagues who came to a local hotel to cut the hair of 30 newly arrived asylum seekers for free. Fati is keen to give back to the community and volunteers at a local church café. Thank you to all at Picasso Cut and Coffee

With the weather getting colder, at a recent drop-in #refugees and #asylumseekers were very happy to choose a warm coat from our preloved selection. #RefugeesWelcome @refugeestogether.bsky.social #feelthewarmth