Refugee Crisis: ‘No one puts their children on a boat unless the water is safer than the land’

‘No one puts their children on a boat unless the water is safer than the land’ (Warsan Shire)

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Update: we’ve paused donations for now due to overwhelming demand. Read  more on our follow-up blog.

As you will all be aware there is a current refugee crisis in Europe. There are lots of ways that we can act to help the current situation, so if you were wondering what you can personally do to help, here are a few simple ways to get involved.


1. LSESU DROP OFF: Come and drop off any clothes, sanitary items and toiletries, sleeping bags, blankets, tinned food, fold up chairs (basically anything without a shelf life) to:

  • Table outside ARC, First Floor SAW (12.30-5pm Saturday 5th and 11am-4pm Sunday 6th September)
  • Media Centre, Second Floor SAW (12-5pm Monday 7th to Friday 11th September)

Student volunteers will gather everything and take it to Calais over the next week. Contact s.begum9@lse.ac.uk or su.communitywelfare@lse.ac.uk if you require more info.


2. PROTEST: Join us at the National Day of Action in solidarity with refugees on 12th September. We’ll start at 12 noon at Marble Arch and march to Downing Street. In preparation, we’ll be creating banners in the ARC (First Floor, SAW) on 10th September from 2pm to 6pm - everyone is welcome to join.


3. SIGN THE PETITION: Call for David Cameron to house more refugees in the UK. This petition has already collected 200,000 signatures; make sure to sign your name to lobby our government to debate this issue in Parliament: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/105991 


4. OTHER DROP OFFS: CalAid London delivers supplies every two weeks in case you miss the first drop off. Their next collection date is Sunday 6th and then Sunday 20th. They are desperately in need of: shoes, tents, jackets, travelling bags, socks, candles, lighters and belts. The drop off address for Sunday 6th is The Hive, 2nd Floor, 260-264 Kingsland Road, E8 4DG.


5. WRITE TO YOUR MP: Find your local MP and write to them directly, asking the Government to take action on the refugee crisis. 


In unity,

Nona Buckley-Irvine, General Secretary
Aysha Fekaiki, Community & Welfare Officer
Katie Budd, Activities & Development Officer
Jon-Rhys Foster, Education Officer