The Redbridge Refugee donation drop off centre is open and already packed full of essential items from the public.

Since opening, last week in the first two days at least 50 Redbridge residents donated pushchairs, boxes of nappies, baby sterilising units, suitcases and other much-needed items.

One donor contributed 100 new copies of the Quaran, and another asked the centre what was needed before going shopping and returning with goods bought from stores in Ilford High Street.

The centre will be open on Mondays and Thursdays between 10 am to 4 pm for the next six weeks.

Leader of Redbridge Council, Cllr Jas Athwal, Major Phil Howe from the Salvation Army and the Mayor of Redbridge, Cllr Roy Emmett visited the drop-off centre.

Leader of Redbridge Council, Cllr Jas Athwal, said: “ I got to see for myself some of the items already donated from our residents which will support refugees. We have only been open for two days and have already made a fantastic start in getting donations for refugees.

“Redbridge has a long history of welcoming people from all over the world who have made our borough their home, and I am proud of the desire shown by local residents to help those in need, especially in light of the tragic scenes that we have seen in Afghanistan over the last few months.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our partners in the voluntary sector who are helping to get the donations to those that need them the most.

The drop off centre has been organised in a partnership between Redbridge Council and the local voluntary sector.

Located at Redbridge Town Hall, it is being staffed by volunteers from Ilford Salvation Army.

Donations will be collected from the Town Hall and then taken by volunteers to a CVS distribution centre in Havering.

Here the donations will be sorted and staff from the charity London Plus will distribute them to families across north east London

Clothes are not required but the centre is looking for good quality:

  • Pushchairs 
  • Baby baths
  • New baby bottles
  • Sterilising units
  • Sterilising tablets
  • Working suitcases and holdalls
  • Headscarves
  • Prayer mats
  • Qurans
  • Flip flops
  • Sandals
  • Sliders