Who We Are

Hull Help for Refugees, or HHfR for short, is a grassroots collective of individuals who wish to aid refugees in the current humanitarian crisis; the biggest of its kind since the Second World War. We are a registered charity as of February 2018 (No. 1176555).

With millions of people fleeing war and human rights violations in countries such as Syria, the crisis should not, and can not be ignored. What’s more, with borders being closed off and increasingly limited numbers being allowed to claim asylum, thousands of men, women and children find themselves stuck in camps, or living on the streets with little more than the clothes on their back.

It is estimated that there are now around 60,000 people in such camps in Greece as well as around 7,000 people living less than 300 miles away from Hull in France and Belgium.

How and when did it all begin?

Back in August 2015, moved by the countless images published in the media of the plight of refugees but inspired by the story of a woman taking sleeping bags to the growing camp in Calais herself, a similar trip was suggested by a Hull resident on social media.

In order to organise a more official effort and obtain a driver as well as donations, a Facebook page was set up. In a matter of days, an assortment of like-minded strangers who were united by their common desire to take action was gathered in a living room in Cottingham and Hull Help for Refugees was born!

What is our ethos?

At HHfR, we have witnessed the power of the collective and we are able to help purely down to the goodwill and generosity of the people of Hull and the surrounding areas. Although the scale and sheer enormity of the crisis can often be overwhelming, we firmly believe that every human being deserves dignity, empathy, compassion and respect. We also believe that when individuals work together, no matter how small the gesture, we can make a difference.

Author Steve Maraboli’s quote sums this up perfectly: “With one kind gesture you can change a life. One person at a time can change the world. One day at a time can change everything.“

We also pride ourselves in working with the local community and have supported local homeless groups, domestic abuse shelters and many other deserving causes.