Donations for Afghan refugees can be made at Singleton’s Dance Academy

Singleton’s Dance Academy on Mellor Street, Rochdale, has become a registered donation drop-off point with Care4Calais, a volunteer-run refugee charity which is aiding Afghan refugees.

With the Taliban having taken control of Afghanistan and many people fleeing the country as a result, Care4Calais is collecting donations for Afghan refugees.

The Taliban regime previously controlled Afghanistan under a strict and repressive interpretation of Islamic sharia law. The group was removed from power by US-led forces in 2001, but has seized control of the country once again.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that thousands fleeing the country – which has caused chaos at Kabul airpoirt – will be given the right to move to the UK as part of a new scheme, with 5,000 Afghans expected in the first year.

At the time of publication, Singleton’s Dance Academy is the only drop-off point in the borough and is accepting all donations on the requirement list, included as a PDF at the end of this article.

Its owner, Gemma Singleton, said: “I saw something on Facebook with people commenting that Beetham Tower in Manchester city centre was being used as a donation point, but for many, it’s not convenient to get to or park. I’ve got a dance studio with four rooms so I have the space.”

Gemma got in touch with Care4Calais, which is co-ordinating drop-off points, who responded “within the hour” that they would be grateful for the space offered.

 

 

The next closest donation points to Rochdale are in Audenshaw, Manchester city centre, Nelson and Leigh.

Gemma added: “I’ve only been on the drop-off map for 24 hours, and yet I’m already stood in a room full of things people don’t want. I’ve got a two-year-old little girl who is allowed to get an education, yet the Taliban don’t let women leave the house without a male escort. It’s not the civilians’ fault they’re in power. People mention ‘all lives matter’ in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, but are very quick to judge; the refugees’ lives matter too.

“Those who were at immediate risk were evacuated, and these were largely made up of people who worked for the UK and US governments and soldiers, that’s why the refugees are predominantly men. They went to work and didn’t get to go home; they had to get straight on a plane with nothing and leave their families behind. That’s why they’re in need of things like smartphones, so they can communicate with their wives and children.”

Care4Calais notes that many refugees use smartphones to update their families on their journeys. As calls to other continents can be expensive and suffer from poor connection, free WiFi networks and apps like WhatsApp make communications between families easier.

Care4Calais is picking up donations from Gemma’s dance studio once a week, taking them to its main hub in Manchester to be sorted by size before distributions.

Gemma added: “There’s plenty of space here; I’ve had the dance studio for 16 years and accumulated a lot of items for costumes and props, which I’ve squeezed into one room whilst it’s not needed.”

Donations can be made at Singleton’s from 9am to 10pm seven days a week.

For more information about refugees, Care4Calais or becoming a drop-off point, please visit: https://care4calais.org/get-involved/

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