We are delighted to announce that this year, Kings Heath Action for Refugees has been officially granted charity status by the Charity Commission. This recognition moves us from being a not for profit charitable community group to better reflect our endeavour to raise funds and support some of the most vulnerable in our society. 

Charity status also means your donations will now be eligible for gift aid to make your money go further. Which is more important than ever as we work to support the increasing numbers seeking sanctuary and fleeing violence.

“This is a landmark moment for KHAR as we scale up our efforts in light of the desperate global refugee situation. I am excited about the next chapter of our work which will build on fundraising strengths to make a difference to crisis response efforts both in Europe and in the UK. And, of course, continuing to support Birmingham as a place of sanctuary providing befriending and awareness raising locally.”

Lucy Kenny, Chair of KHAR

KHAR launches its winter fundraising appeal this month to provide essential packs to refugees recently arriving. These include winter essentials for men, women and children staying in temporary initial accommodation will include warm items, cosmetics and children’s education materials. The new charity status means we can also benefit from Amazon’s donation programme and we have set up a wishlist for you to purchase items directly and benefit. We have also added new designs to #shopwithlove including tees, pouches and sweatshirts just in time for your shopping. You can find these at a number of local brum markets over the coming festive period – including Paperdolls this weekend.

Of course, they are also all available to purchase online at www.actionforrefugees.org.

Kings Heath Action for Refugees and Refugee Support Europe are pleased to welcome Dina Nayeri and Gulwali Passarlay to share with us their journeys as refugees travelling to the safety, as told in their respective books ‘The Ungrateful Refugee’ and ‘Lightless Sky’.

On Tuesday 16th June at 7pm, we invite you to join us in Aston University’s Sumpner Lecture Theatre for a live discussion of their journeys, with all proceeds going to Refugee Action Europe and King’s Heath Action for Refugees.

Tickets are available now via our TicketTailor page.

About the authors

Dina Nayeri

Dina Nayeri was just a child when she fled Iran as an asylum seeker. But as she settled into life in the US and then Europe, she became suspicious of the idea that refugees should shed their old identities and be eternally thankful.

The Guardian (2017)
via https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/04/dina-nayeri-ungrateful-refugee

Purchase a copy of ‘The Ungrateful Refugee’ at the event.

Guwali Passarlay

I was just 12 years old when my brother and I began to receive demands from the Taliban and from the government. The Taliban wanted us to fight or die, the government wanted us to become informants. We were terrified.

Refugees like me and my brother will stop at nothing to reach safety. And COVID-19 won’t change that. But it is making people’s journeys infinitely more dangerous.

Guwali Passarlay
via https://gulwalipassarlay.wordpress.com/

Purchase a copy of ‘The Lightless Sky’ at the event.

Check out our COVID-19 response and downloadable colouring in sheets here.