Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I have recently returned from Greece, where I lived for 20 years, to spend my retirement in Yorkshire, where I was born, educated, married and together with my husband brought up our two children. 

The experience I had in Greece, of seeing how easy it is for personal circumstances to change, from one day to the next, has made me realise that that person clutching all earthly possessions in one holdall, could so easily have been me. It could be you.

Bearing that in mind, I know if I were a refugee, having had to uproot and flee my home, I would so welcome a bit of kindness, and charity to help me get on my feet. This is my way of helping, I hope you will support me by donating whatever you feel you can. Thanks, Jane x

These asylum seekers are not allowed to work, to register themselves as homeless or to be placed in local authority night shelters. Many become destitute, struggling daily for food, accommodation and clothing. ASSIST says that:

£5 could cover expenses for a weekend’s hospitality for an asylum seeker in need of somewhere to sleep
£17 could cover travel expenses to enable an asylum seeker to get to medical and legal appointments
£20 could give a vulnerable asylum seeker a week’s ASSIST grant to enable them to buy some food
On 2nd April, we have a lovely venue for our Poem-a-thon - the Art House in Backfields - with its own cafe in the city centre. Entry is free and 50 poets will be reading from 10am - 6pm. There will be a bookstall, a tombola with great prizes, tea, coffee, cakes. Please sponsor me or any of the other poets in our team. Any other cash raised through sales on the day will go to charities supporting refugees stranded just across the Channel in Northern France.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.