Hi everyone,

Last summer I volunteered for a charity in Calais called Refugee Community Kitchen (RCK), who do incredible work providing hot, nutritious food for displaced people in Northern France year-round. You can find more information about the organisation via their link at the bottom of this page.

In support of their ongoing winter fundraiser (see below for further details), I'll be climbing the three highest peaks/ranges in Wales in January 2024: Yr Wyddfa/Snowdon, Y Carneddau, and Y Glyderau. Weather permitting, I'm hoping to do this in one weekend / three consecutive days, but if the weather is more variable then I'll be climbing them over three different days in January.

I'm aware funds are tight for many of us these days, but if you'd be willing to donate any amount I'd be immensely grateful. I'm also happy to talk about my experience volunteering with RCK if helpful to you, and try to answer any questions about their work as best as possible.

Thank you advance if you are able to give, and I'll update this page in January once the hikes are under way!

Diolch o'r galon,

Dafydd

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From RCK:

Refugee Community Kitchen has never been lower in funds and we are entering a winter of increasing service numbers, rising food costs and ongoing challenges.

To meet these challenges head-on, RCK has set a goal of raising £60,000 over the coming winter months when conditions are hardest on the ground. We are calling all supporters, new and old, to dig deep this winter and help. Just a few pounds, or the price of a cup of coffee, helps keep the food flowing and shows our commitment and humanity in an ever deepening crisis right on our doorstep.

These funds will be used to pay for:

• Warm Meals: With your support, RCK can continue to serve nutritious, freshly prepared, hot meals that provide not only sustenance but also a sense of dignity and comfort to refugees living in freezing, damp conditions with so little.

• Currently £5 = 2 large meals of rice or potatoes, a hearty main, fresh salad, as many health enhancing and delicious condiments we can carry.

• Overheads: Gas, electricity, water, rent to run our large kitchens and fuel to keep the vans on the road.

• Equipment: Acquire and maintain our vital kitchen equipment, including fridges, ovens, burners and vehicles.

• Support for volunteers: Accommodation, visa applications and expenses - volunteers work tirelessly and their efforts are invaluable. Your donations will help provide them with the necessary resources and support to continue their critical work.

Refugee Community Kitchen is the only independent NGO that is currently serving hot meals in Calais and we are wholly funded by charitable donations. We cook and serve over 1000 meals a day in Calais alone and up to 600 a day in nearby Dunkirk. Often this can be the only meal, warmth and nutrition our service users receive each day.

For the past eight years, Refugee Community Kitchen has aspired to be a ray of hope and comfort that shines through amidst the grim reality, uncertainty and fear for those displaced from their homes. We remain dedicated to serving hot, nutritious food and offering a brief sense of safety and welcome to those in unimaginable hardship.

Winter in Calais and Dunkirk is unforgiving - the high winds and biting cold cuts through even the thickest of clothing and freezing frost blankets the ground every morning where people sleep outside with no shelter. Refugees have travelled vast distances, escaping conflict and persecution, Northern France becomes both a temporary respite and an ongoing survival challenge.

As winter approaches we see the numbers of people accessing our services increase. More refugees arrive daily fleeing wars, persecution, natural disasters and the effects of climate change. After arduous journeys they are often stuck living in the environs of Calais and Dunkirk with little or no access to basic services as government apathy and cruelty impedes their fundamental human right to shelter and safety.

This winter, your donation can be a lifeline for those who are often forgotten. It can be a symbol of solidarity and compassion, reminding refugees that they are not alone on their life journey. Together, we can write a different chapter in the story of refugees in Northern France - one filled with warmth, hope, and a brighter future.

Your contribution can make all the difference to hungry and vulnerable people.

Donate today and be a part of this story of resilience, courage, humanity, nourishment and compassion in the face of adversity.