Volunteering

Befriending is always one of our key needs. We can also use volunteers to help with our annual Summer Holiday Programme.

If you have a talent to offer, then will try and find a place where is can be used effectively. E.g. We have a male volunteer, a trained life guard, who helps teach beginners and improvers at swimming trips for men.

 Being Better Informed

Find out more about asylum issues: Attend a training course, join us for RESTORE Open Meetings, and look at other web sites e.g. Refugee Council.

After each Open Meeting we send out a letter with further information to befrienders and supporters. If you would like to receive that letter by e-mail, then please contact Alison Thorne, Administrative Assistant, RESTORE.

Sample newsletter

 Praying

Please pray: for asylum seekers and refugees, for justice, for responses to the problems of destitution, for changes to the system e.g. permission for asylum seekers to work whilst they await their decisions.

For more prayer topics please see: Enabling Christians in Serving Refugees

RESTORE Prayer Letter for more prayer topics and individuals to pray for.

If you would like to receive the RESTORE prayer letter via e-mail then please contact Alison Thorne, Administrative Assistant at RESTORE.

 Donating

Donate Food

The following food items can be donated to the Red Cross to be given to destitute asylum seekers.

ALL ITEMS MUST BE DATED AND WITHIN THEIR USE BY DATE OR BEST BEFORE DATE, PLEASE.

• Rice
• Mealie meal (corn meal - a staple food for many Africans)
• Powdered semolina (not tinned semolina pudding)
• Noodles and spaghetti (but rice, mealie meal and powdered semolina are more popular)
• Tea, coffee, sugar
• Tinned tomatoes, chick peas, kidney beans, sweet corn, baked beans
• Tomato sauce/pasta sauce
• Tinned tuna, beef, chicken, other fish, curry, stewed steak, chicken casserole etc (no pork or ham please)
• Cartons of long life milk and long life fruit juice
• Jam and other spreads
• Tins of fruit, rice pudding and custard
• Biscuits, cereal bars, packaged cakes and dried fruit

A list of non-perishable food which are most appreciated.

Please take food to:

British Red Cross
Bradbury House
7 Lowe Street
Camp Hill
Birmingham
B12 0ER

Telephone: 0121 766 5444

Donate Toiletries

The Refugee Council collects the following toiletries to pass on to refugees and asylum seekers. Please deliver direct to Eleanor Harrison at the Refugee Council: Soap (e.g. packs of Imperial Leather soap), toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, face flannels, bathing towels, shaving kits for men and women, tampax, sanitary towels, deodorant, comb/brush, nail clippers, face cream, moisturiser and antiseptic cream. Also underwear (new and packed): socks, pants, boxer-shorts, bras and tights. And toiletries for babies: nappies, nappy rash cream, Johnson’s Baby Lotion, Sterilised Bottles, dummies, bibs, baby grows and sleeping blankets.

Please deliver direct to:

Eleanor Harrison at the Refugee Council
1st floor Smithfield House
Digbeth
Birmingham
B5 6BS

Telephone: 0121 622 1515

Donate Furniture (and transportation)

From time to time both Karis Neighbour Scheme and RESTORE know of clients who need furniture and other household goods. This is often when an individual or family is given refugee status and then needs to equip their new accommodation from scratch. If you have items to donate please contact Karis Neighbour Scheme (0121 6081) or RESTORE.

When furniture is offered one constraint is transport. If you have a large vehicle or van (and a good back!) and could help on an occasional basis please contact Karis Neighbour Scheme or RESTORE.

Donate money

Should you wish to make a donation towards the work of RESTORE, please make your cheque payable to:

“Birmingham Churches Together - RESTORE”

 Campaigning

In addition to helping with immediate needs, RESTORE hopes that we can campaign to change the system, policies and attitudes which cause the problems.

See the full Campaigning page >>

 Join a Vigil

Join the vigil (5-6pm) outside Birmingham Anglican Cathedral, Colmore Row, in support of asylum seekers and refugees. This event was initiated by Christians from the Quaker movement the autumn of 2006 and runs every other week on Mondays from 5-6pm. It provides a public witness to those passing by that some people in Birmingham care about the plight of asylum seekers and refugees. It is also an opportunity to meet people who care deeply about these issues. More people to make a greater presence would be welcome. Please dress warmly!

For more information please contact Barbara Forbes [forbesbarbarae@yahoo.co.uk]

 Feedback Form

Please use this form to register interest in the work of RESTORE, or to update the details we have.

If you receive news by E-mail this will save RESTORE the postage. However, if you have a slow or unreliable internet connection then the Postal option may be best.

We send out a mailing about 5 times each year.

All of your details will be confidential to RESTORE, and if we know your age we can best suggest how you can be involved.

The information you give will be copied back to you at the email address you supplied, so you can check the details.

Boxes marked with '*' are required to be filled in.

Name *

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Organisation (if applicable)

Telephone

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If you are interested in our training, please select one of the following possible dates:

Morning course on Fridays

Evening course on Mondays

Future Morning courses

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Please give your comments about the work of RESTORE or about your potential involvement with RESTORE

 Tick to confirm you have read the notes above *