Supporting homeless refugees in Paris with cups of Solidarithé

Down and Out in Paris and London

It is far from an easy life living on the streets of France's capital city, just read a bit of the book Down and Out in Paris and London to find out how George Orwell got on. Today, eighty five years later and life as a homeless refugee 'sans papier' living rough on the streets of Paris life is pretty grim.

Many hundred of young men, from Sudan, Aghanistan and Eritrea are sleeping on the streets of the area in Paris called Porte de La Chapelle.  The voluntary group Solidarithé gives out free cups of hot, sweet tea and coffee every evening on the Boulevard Ney.

While in France in July 2017, I drove a delivery of tea and coffee to Paris.  I stayed for a week and volunteered with the French charity Utopia56 and Solidarithé.

Supporting refugees with a cup of Solidarithé

I saw that the queue for the one hot meal the guys receive, provided daily by the city authorities, is often fraught with tension and sometimes simmering wth frustration (and that is just how the stewards feel) but tea time is a much calmer affair.  Around 8pm is a time of respite, a period of relative calm, the guys take a few moments to saviour a hot drink laced with spoonfuls of sugar, and they then chat with their mates, attend an art workshop or take a language class sat on the pavement.  Newcomers receive information sheets with a map and addresses of useful government offices, voluntary groups, charities, clinics located in and around Paris.

The small favour done by Solidarithé doesn't solve the problem of homelessness among refugees, but it does lift moral and it is a vital service.

To keep going, Solidarithé needs to muster vast quantities of paper cups, many kilos of coffee, thousands of tea bags, dozens of sacks of sugar, pens, colouring pencils, paper, exercise books, art equipment, and all this costs money and takes effort.

If you want to volunteer your time, give money, or donate essentials then please visit the Solidarithé Facebook page.

  

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Ormskirk Servolution painting at Greetby Hill School April 21 2012

Ormskirk Servolution volunteers painting at Greetby Hill School April 21 2012

Local ward Councillor and Christian Adrian Owens and volunteers from the Ormskirk Christian group Servolution came together on Saturday 21st April to repaint the railings at Greetby Hill CE School.

Christians painting Greetby Hill School

WRVS Ormskirk Hospital Shop Video Interview with manager Deborah Brown

WRVS Orsmkirk Hospital Shop Interview with manager Deborah Brown

The WRVS (Women's Royal Voluntary Service) is a charity which originated back during the second world war. Today the motto of the WRVS is "Positive about age, positive about life"

Through more than 40,000 volunteers WRVS helps older people all over the country to stay independent at home and active in their community. It is that practical little bit of help that makes all the difference -- whether at home, getting them to where they want to go, bringing people together through social activities or supporting them in hospital or in an emergency.

The WRVS hospital shop in the Ormskirk District General Hospital donated in 2011 £41,000 to the hospital.  This donation was made to fund a new heart scanner. The money was raised from the profits made by the hospital shop.

During the video interview Deborah Brown, the shop manager, gives us an insight into the shops activities and those of the WRVS in West Lancashire.