What We Do

What We Do at HHfR

We always welcome new volunteers, whether you want to join in with the things we already do or you have different skills you’d like to bring to the table. There’s no commitment so you can help out as and when you’re able.

Click on an option below for more information:

Collect, Sort & Distribute Donations
Festival Salvage
Markets, Fairs & Car Boots
Volunteer Abroad
Spread Awareness & Raise Funds
Sponsored Events

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like to get involved.

Collect, Sort & Distribute Donations

We have sorting sessions twice a week, categorising the donations we receive, mainly clothing, bedding and housewares. This is a good starting point for new volunteers to meet members of the team. Donations are then sent to where they are needed; to refugees in France and Greece, those recently settled in Hull and also to local homeless organisations and centres.

Festival Salvage

Every year, we collect hundreds of abandoned sleeping bags, mats and tents from festival sites. These are distributed to the kind people of Hull who wash and return them ready to drive to Calais, or to send to refugee camps on the Greek Islands. It’s a tiring, dirty day but a lot of fun. Due to festival site insurance, it’s over 18s only.

Markets, Fairs & Car Boots

Not everything donated is useful to refugees, either locally or abroad but we use that to our advantage. We often have stalls at Walton Street car boot sale, Cottingham market and others, as well as holding our own fairs, usually at Christmas and in Spring. Money raised goes towards transporting goods to refugees around Europe as well as sending monetary donations towards particular appeals from organisations working with refugees abroad.

Volunteer Abroad

Volunteering with organisations in Calais as well as further afield can give a real insight into the situation faced by refugees abroad. Some of our volunteers arrange group trips, volunteering in the Care4Calais warehouse, the Refugee Community Kitchen or other organisations. Whether you’re interested in joining a group visit or need advice to go it alone, we’re always happy to help.

Spread Awareness & Raise Funds

Through taking our stall to local communities, hosting talks and music events, or sharing information through the media and social media, we are speaking out about the issues affecting refugees. Our annual event, The Big Share, hosted during Refugee Week is an opportunity for people from all cultures to come together to share food and conversation. All of these events are an added opportunity to raise funds towards the cause.