Akwaaba Covid-19 emergency programme
Tax deductible
Since the start of the pandemic, we have been running our Covid-19 emergency programme, but without more funding we will have to close the programme in March.
We cannot allow this to happen! The pandemic has been hard for everyone, but particularly so for migrants already subjected to the government's hostile environment policies.
Many of our members are struggling to meet their basic needs. Many have no recourse to public funds (which means no access universal credit and other types of state support), are in insecure housing and/or employment, and are subjected to healthcare charges. Many don't have wifi or enough devices at home for the children to do home schooling. Most who come to our Sunday food distribution service are homeless. These inequalities have become more entrenched during the pandemic lockdowns, and will become more so the longer the crisis continues.
In the first six months of our programme, we were able to:
- prepare and distribute 250 hot meals each week – 7000 meals overall
- support 82 members in financial hardship through monthly hardship funds
- issue 103 emergency grants to members with No Recourse to Public Funds
- issue 34 laptops or tablets to families with children studying at home
- issue 45 smartphones, 50 feature phones and 50 power banks to street homeless/precariously housed members
- provide phone/data top ups to 302 members
Thanks to people's amazing contributions to our previous fundraiser, we have been able to support our community for a whole year, but without more funding we will need to close the hardship programme in March.
We are urgently applying for grants but our volunteers have quite limited capacity and applying for grants is a long and uncertain process. We are therefore again looking to the wider community for support.
We know this is a financially uncertain and difficult time for many, so we are especially urging those with larger pockets and secure incomes to act in solidarity and give generously!
Thank you for your generosity and support and please do share this fundraiser widely!
About Akwaaba
Akwaaba is a volunteer-run social centre for migrants. We offer a space for rest, play, learning and mutual support. We believe that no-one is illegal. We are committed to actively opposing racism and all other forms of discrimination and oppression. Our aim is to build community and foster care, cooperation and solidarity.
Before Covid-19, Akwaaba used to run on Sunday afternoons in a school in Hackney, where members shared food, accessed resources, socialised, and took part in classes and activities (this included a children’s space). Between 250-300 people regularly came to Akwaaba.
We cannot allow this to happen! The pandemic has been hard for everyone, but particularly so for migrants already subjected to the government's hostile environment policies.
Many of our members are struggling to meet their basic needs. Many have no recourse to public funds (which means no access universal credit and other types of state support), are in insecure housing and/or employment, and are subjected to healthcare charges. Many don't have wifi or enough devices at home for the children to do home schooling. Most who come to our Sunday food distribution service are homeless. These inequalities have become more entrenched during the pandemic lockdowns, and will become more so the longer the crisis continues.
In the first six months of our programme, we were able to:
- prepare and distribute 250 hot meals each week – 7000 meals overall
- support 82 members in financial hardship through monthly hardship funds
- issue 103 emergency grants to members with No Recourse to Public Funds
- issue 34 laptops or tablets to families with children studying at home
- issue 45 smartphones, 50 feature phones and 50 power banks to street homeless/precariously housed members
- provide phone/data top ups to 302 members
Thanks to people's amazing contributions to our previous fundraiser, we have been able to support our community for a whole year, but without more funding we will need to close the hardship programme in March.
We are urgently applying for grants but our volunteers have quite limited capacity and applying for grants is a long and uncertain process. We are therefore again looking to the wider community for support.
We know this is a financially uncertain and difficult time for many, so we are especially urging those with larger pockets and secure incomes to act in solidarity and give generously!
Thank you for your generosity and support and please do share this fundraiser widely!
About Akwaaba
Akwaaba is a volunteer-run social centre for migrants. We offer a space for rest, play, learning and mutual support. We believe that no-one is illegal. We are committed to actively opposing racism and all other forms of discrimination and oppression. Our aim is to build community and foster care, cooperation and solidarity.
Before Covid-19, Akwaaba used to run on Sunday afternoons in a school in Hackney, where members shared food, accessed resources, socialised, and took part in classes and activities (this included a children’s space). Between 250-300 people regularly came to Akwaaba.
Organizer
Terese J
Organizer
Akwaaba
Registered nonprofit
Donations eligible for Gift Aid.
