Green Party members are being urged to give to the urgent collection for refugees at conference this weekend.

Kurdish Syrian refugees – cc European Commission

Organisers say tents, trainers and toiletries – as well as vital cash donations – are needed for the thousands of refugees currently camped in Calais, with activists being asked to bring them along to Bournemouth.

The donations will be managed by Calaid, one of the main groups coordinating the voluntary response to the humanitarian crisis in the UK.

Laura Bannister, who is one of the organisers of the collection, said: “Alongside campaigning for the UK to accept more refugees, we want to provide some practical support. The Green Party is collecting donations for asylum seekers camped at Calais, and our deputy leaders will be travelling there to drop off your donations and keep the media coverage going.” Deputy leaders Amelia Womack and Shahrar Ali visited ‘The Jungle’ last month to show their support and see the conditions.

Members are being asked to bring:

– Shoes (Trainers or hiking shoes, Sizes: 41-46)
– Tents/Covers/Tarpaulins
– Jackets (Sizes: Small and Medium)
– Travelling Bags
– Socks
– Candles (or other lighting implements)
– Belts
– Tracksuit trousers
– Jeans (Sizes: 28-32)
– Blankets & sleeping bags
– Soap & shampoo
– Toothbrushes & toothpaste
– Plastic bags
– Woolly hats
– Underwear
– Pots & Pans

Items that are not currently needed: 
– Women and children’s clothes or shoes
– Sheets & Pillows
– Suits & Jumpers
– Wellingtons

Supporters are urged to only bring the items above, as ‘storage space in Calais is very limited’, according to the organisers.

There will also be a cash collection at conference.

See you in Bournemouth. Bring supplies and solidarity!