Students and staff volunteer for refugee relief

Students and staff from the University of Northampton are continuing with their efforts to support refugees in Calais and wider Europe.

A huge haul of clothes and other essential items have been donated by students and staff over the past few months, and this week they were sorted and boxed up ready to be distributed across the Channel.

The sorting session took place on Wednesday at St Anne’s church in Northampton town centre, where around 15 Occupational Therapy and Community Development students and volunteers from the community gave up their time.

The initiative is being co-ordinated by Senior Lecturer in the School of Health, Father Timothy Curtis, with able assistance from Executive Officer, Nick Allen.

Tim said: “I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to all the students, Nick Allen, staff and the community volunteers who sorted, listed and packed over 2,600 items of aid for refugees.

“Aid is already on its way to Greece from staff and students who have donated and at present we are not collecting donations.

“But our work will continue, with plans to take our students to Calais, and in the longer term, as a community we will be helping refugees when they arrive in Northampton, helping them to settle.”

A Facebook group has been set up to allow people to follow the initiative and get involved.

You can listen to Tim talk about the relief effort on BBC Radio Northampton ​(interview starts at 1hr 43mins).