Nurse Joanne Davenport to venture into Calais ‘Jungle’ refugee camp with donations

Nurse Joanne Davenport will be entering the Calais ‘jungle’ migrant camp this Saturday with a van full of donations, ahead of its demolition by 31 October.

Speaking about the camp, Ms Davenport, 42, said: “Many of those in the ‘jungle’ are young men from countries like Afghanistan and Syria who are there because they have left the violent and horrific conditions of their own countries.

“A lot of the refugees want to start their lives anew in England because they can speak English as a second language.”

When in France, they will meet with the charity, help4reugeechildren, who look after families with young children and the unaccompanied minors, before entering the camp.

Ms Davenport, who is a single mother, initially planned to venture to the migrant camp on her own after being moved by both a documentary about a refugee camp in Jordan.

She said: “The horrendous plight and living conditions of unaccompanied children as young as eight in the 'jungle’ is totally heart-breaking.

“My son is nine, and the thought of him living alone, cold, hungry and scared fills me with horror.”

Ms Davenport decided to hire a van to Calais to donate the clothes to children in the ‘jungle’ after clearing out her son’s outgrown clothes.

She added: “Complete strangers from all over the country have contributed in one way or another. Friends in Helmshore and central Manchester collected in their areas.

“My sister, Alison, who is also a nurse, has also organised collections, and I have been receiving bags of donations almost every day.”

A week into collecting, a protest in Calais lead to the news that the camp will be demolished by 31 October.

Ms Davenport was contacted by Rebecca Broscombe-Adams, from Leeds, who has previously visited Calais with donations six times. She donated 21 suitcases to the cause.

Ms Davenport said: “Lizzie Owen from Fairfield General has equalled me in time and effort with donations, so we are going together.”

After receiving over £400 in cash, hundreds of pounds’ worth of food, clothes, footwear, blankets and nappies, a van and driver were offered to Ms Davenport by LED Electrical.

Ms Davenport added: “We will help sort and distribute our donations to the families there before getting the ferry back to Dover the same day.

“I anticipate we will be exhausted and emotional, but satisfied that we delivered everybody’s brilliant donations to those that need it most.”

Ms Davenport wishes to thank everyone who has been involved:

Strawberry Laces, Jonathan Swire Estate Agent, The Shoe Closest, The Wheatsheaf Pub, Littleborough Dental Practice, Littleborough Co-op, Texaco Spar, Alison Redfern, Claire Hutchinson of Kaya Beauty, Nursing Agency Hamilton-Cross, long term volunteers Rob Lawrie and Rebecca Broscombe-Adams, LED Electrical and Lizzie Owen.