£2,000 RAISED FOR REFUGEE SUPPORT FUND

Alan Hughes with Ahlam and Hasan at the fundraising dinner

Thanks to Alan Hughes and Michael Combes for this account of the fundraising dinner which took place in St. Pius Hall on 19th October 2019, and of the CPG Refugee Support Fund.

The CPG Refugee Support Fund was established last year with the proceeds of the fundraising dinner held in October. The principal aim of the Fund is to provide financial support to local refugee families who are experiencing difficulty in coping with their ordinary daily needs. In particular, helping to meet the requirements of the children is a priority.
 
On October 19th this year’s dinner was held at St Pius to support the fund and there was also a sale of craft items.  Over £2,000 was raised.  Our thanks go to everyone who supported the dinner or visited the craft stall in the Narthex.  The dinner was a Syrian meal prepared by a married Syrian couple who have resettled in Guildford, supported by some of the parishioners. The evening was enjoyed by all and was a great success for the couple who created such a wonderful meal.
 
The CPG Refugee Support Fund team plans to continue its efforts to support the Syrian refugee families as they continue to adapt to life in the UK.  The families are under continuing financial pressure and the aim is to alleviate this by assisting with payment for basic household and personal items.  We are always looking for different ways of raising funds and if anyone can help with this, please email catherineandalanhughes@gmail.com or call 01483 826124.  We’d love to hear from you.

Financial support for the families is very important but there are other ways in which support can be given.  Often the refugees, parents and children, have little or no grasp of English and carrying out many basic things of ordinary life is fraught with difficulty.  This means that there is a variety of roles in which volunteers can get involved directly in helping the families build their lives here.  Especially important are additional tutoring in English and Maths – the families will not be able to pay for such tuition although their need is often acute.  There are many other ways that direct help can be given.  If you would like to get involved please contact Catherine and Alan as noted above and we will endeavour to find a suitable opportunity.  Participation in volunteering requires the usual safeguarding and other compliance.

The food shopping was done in this grocery and butchery in Guildford.

Food preparation took two days... but did not take the smile from Ann Kenny's face!

The meal was sensational!

From top left, clockwise:  Catherine Hughes, who with husband Alan masterminded the fundraising dinner; Peter Turvey chatting with Rev. Diane Peters; the ever-smiling Ann Kenny with the dessert trolley; Hasan and Ahlam.

Michael Steele organised a raffle.

Karen Nethercott (right, with Monica Rowden) sold crafts in the Narthex for the Refugee Support Fund.