A new charitable fund has been established to help grassroots London organisations, such as the Lewisham Donation Hub, support Afghan refugees.

The London Refugee Response has been set up with leadership from Sadiq Khan, councils and charitable funders to enable Londoners to financially support the resettlement of refugees.

Around 3,500 refugees have already arrived in the capital, after the Government committed to resettle 20,000 nationally. 

The money raised will go towards local organisations who understand their needs, such as The Lewisham Donation Hub, which has already provided aid to 6,000 refugees since it was established in early 2020. 

Laurence Smith, of the Lewisham Donation Hub, said: “Since set up in response to the COVID19 pandemic, our donation hub has become a major source of support for south-east Londoners facing hardship (whatever their circumstances, and wherever they are from).

“One year later, we have over 50 refugees on our volunteer team, three of whom are Afghans.

“Seeing the crisis enveloping their country gave us a fierce determination to do whatever we could to welcome their compatriots to ours.

“Thanks to the extraordinary support of our community, we have now supported 14+ hotels and around 6,000 refugees with immediate and often very specific aid (from clothing and electricals to medical supplies).

“Our immediate needs are ever changing - but one absolute constant is a need for financial donations.

“If you can support us today, you will give us the ability to help Afghans and others over the longer term. Thank you.”

The volunteer-run Donation Hub distributes food, clothes, and household basics to members of the community facing hardship. 

The London Refugee Response will also go to organisations providing mental health support, language support, advice around employment and legal advice. 

Lewisham's mayor, Damien Egan, welcomed the announcement, having offered the borough as a 'sanctuary' for refugees last month. 

He said: “Lewisham is proud to be the first Borough of Sanctuary in the UK.

"We will build on our track record as London’s leading borough for refugee resettlement by taking in Afghan refugee families and providing a safe home for those fleeing conflict and persecution. 

"The response of the local community here in Lewisham has been incredible and we will continue working with the Lewisham Donation Hub to ensure those arriving from Afghanistan have all the essentials they need.

"Rather than using the Immigration Bill to make it harder for those fleeing Afghanistan to seek sanctuary in the UK, the Government should be focused on providing local authorities with the necessary funding to secure accommodation for refugee families.”

To mark the announcement, Piccadilly Lights and the TFL network will today carry the message ‘Refugees Welcome’ in English, Dari and Pashto.

You can donate to the London Refugee Response here 

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