BASINGSTOKE residents who volunteer with a refugee charity are helping provide warm coats, a change of underwear and support for refugees housed in Basingstoke.

Care4Calais volunteers are supporting 250 recently arrived asylum seekers in Hampshire, with families and young people from a range of war-torn regimes, including Afghanistan, Iran, Eritrea, Ukraine and Syria.

When refugees arrive, they often have no more than the clothes they stand up in, and with no right to work it is almost impossible for them to access basic essentials like clothes, shoes or over counter medicines.

Regional lead for the charity Sam Jonkers said: "Without the help of charities and the local community these families would remain in very dire straights.

“We are asking churches, sports clubs and schools to help us by organising collections of warm winter coats and new underwear.

“We really struggle to get enough men's coats, so those would be especially welcome, but ladies and children's coats are also needed."

As well as providing direct aid the charity organises fitness and wellbeing activities.

Dawn a local resident and volunteer said: "Many of those seeking sanctuary here have experienced traumatic events and staring at the four walls of your room isn't good for mental health.

“Activities like football, yoga and board game cafés really help bring people out of themselves, and our volunteer team also help explain the asylum system and its paperwork, which is quite difficult to understand."

If you can organise a coat collection, would like to volunteer or would like to know more about ways to help refugees in your town email Reading@care4calais.org.