OUR NEWS | Separated Child Foundation

Club Class
2 June 2010

We're delighted to be launching this educational, cultural and social programme for separated young people aged 15-18. Beginning on 7 July 2010, Club Class will run throughout the year on Wednesdays, from 4.30 to 7.30 pm in the London NW8 area. A cross between a club and a class, Club Class will include opportunities to learn English, a range of other activities and a full meal, all free of charge. The Trustees are very pleased to have appointed youth workers Roz Evans, Egerton Gbonda and Laura Maxwell, who are already busy recruiting participants and planning the programme.

Social workers, teachers, care providers and refugee organisations who would like to refer separated young people aged 15-18 to Club Class are asked to get in touch with 'Separated Child' by e-mailing contact@separatedchild.org.

Marvellous Marathon Man makes it!
13 May 2010

Russell Benson lived to tell the tale and his supporters put their hands in their pockets to the tune of over £2000, including Gift Aid. Many thanks to them and, of course to Russell - especially his feet!

Marathon Man!
25 April 2010

Russell Benson, a self-described born Rugby player, has set himself a new challenge: he's taken up running and entered the Virgin London Marathon 2010. On 25 April, in support of 'Separated Child', he'll run the equivalent of 105 race tracks. You can read about what motivates Russell and sponsor him through JustGiving.

Feast and fun... and funds!
28 February 2010

As well as the revellers having a great evening, Queen Esther's Persian Feast (see below) generated £1051 for 'Separated Child'. Many thanks to supporters Amanda Nahary, William Vega and their team who worked so hard to create such a special event.

Feast and fun!
27 February 2010

To celebrate the Jewish festival of Purim and to raise funds for 'Separated Child', a great evening is in store at New London Synagogue.

What? 'Queen Esther's Persian Feast': dinner with wine and music in a 'Persian' atmosphere, performance by highly acclaimed street magician Owen Lean, donation bar, a raffle and karoake

When? Saturday night 27 February from 9.00 till late

Where? New London Hall, 33 Abbey Road, London NW8 0AT

Who with? Come with friends or on your own: the company will be great

Why? To have a great evening and raise funds for 'Separated Child' at the same time

What to wear? Fancy dress (or even just a funny hat) encouraged

How much? Just £10 in advance if you call 020 7328 1026 during the week between 9.00 am and 2.00 pm; £15 on the door

An appealing idea!
18 February 2010

Our warmest thanks go to the members of Southgate and District Reform Synagogue who donated £1241 in response to the High Holy Day Appeal, and to Rabbi Deborah Kahn-Harris whose idea it was to include 'Separated Child' as one of the charities to support.

Just a click!
23 December 2009

A single e-mail to members of the London Asylum Seekers Consortium (LASC) made scores of colleagues in the sector aware of our Arrival Packs project, which means that we can get these valuable packs into the hands of many more separated children and young people who really need them. Since then, we've received loads of requests—in just a click!

Wrapped - to wrap up warm!
15 December 2009

We did it last year and we wanted to do it again—so we did! We thought: if the separated young people at the Refugee Council are having a Christmas party, they must have a present. So 'Separated Child' volunteers Natasha Mann and Sabine Peris wrapped 80 cheerful 'warm winter' packages of a hat, scarf, gloves, thermal socks and chocolate, and volunteer Rima Salahié was in her element as she handed out our gifts. We're not sure who had more fun: the young people or Rima!

Once more, with feeling!
15 December 2009

We've been delighted to fund the post of youth activities worker at the Refugee Council since autumn 2008. The programme at the centre in Brixton (south London) has really taken off and a phenomenal number and range of activities has been arranged. The Trustees of 'Separated Child' are pleased and proud to announce that they've extended the funding for this valuable work until spring 2011.

Out of the blue!
4 December 2009

Rabbi Janet Darley of South London Liberal Synagogue contacted us to say that she'd heard of our Arrival Packs project and that they'd like to support it as part of their Mitzvah Day initiative... just like that! Our top priority was warm scarves and these were duly rustled up, along with toothpaste and toothbrushes. What's more, the children of the synagogue made touchingly thoughtful and charming greetings cards to include in the Arrival Packs. Imagine our gratitude when Rabbi Darley personally delivered all these wonderful donations to our warehouse in north London!

Getting and giving
15 November 2009

Separated children—young refugees without their parents or carers—are among the most vulnerable members of our society. One of the ways we support them is through Arrival Packs—duffle bags crammed full of toiletries, clothing and other essentials.

As an entirely volunteer-led charity on a tight budget, we were delighted when we discovered Giving World, which organises 'access to excess' for the benefit of charities. We've already received some tops and absolutely loads of warm socks, which have been a real gift in this cold weather.

We also used a bit of creativity and partnered with New London Synagogue on a day of social action that involved synagogue members of all ages. One of the activities was making scarves from the woollen cloth that we received from Giving World.

All praise to Giving World for its sterling work and thanks to the companies for the valuable goods they donate!

"Bring it on!"
15 November 2009

The 'Bring it on!" collectathon at New London Synagogue for Mitzvah Day benefited five refugee organisations, including 'Separated Child'. The hall was turned into a cross between a warehouse and a sorting office, while the synagogue itself served as a loading bay! Of the staggering 2437 kilos of goods that were collected, sorted, packed and labelled, more than a quarter (665 kilos) came our way for Arrival Packs. What's more, the synagogue volunteers delivered the 105 boxes and bags to our warehouse where they created what you could only call a 'Mitzvah Mountain'! Our appreciation is mountainous, too...

Top class!
13 November 2009

Full marks go to the Academy School in Hampstead, London, for their outstanding contribution to 'Separated Child', in connection with Mitzvah Day. In an assembly on the Monday, 'Separated Child' Trustee Angela Gluck spoke to the pupils about separated children and the Arrival Packs project. By the Friday the school hall was full to the brim with donations from the children and their families. It was a wonderful response! Many thanks, too, to headteacher Garth Evans for endorsing this initiative and to parent Bianca Roden who approached 'Separated Child' as a charity that the school could support and who organised the goods that had been collected.

July to September 2009

Where is heaven, Ester?
25 September 2009

Eid Mubarak!
22 September 2009

A Gold Star for Big Yellow!
21 August 2009

It's on the table!
1 July 2009

April to June 2009

Written All Over Our History
28 June 2009

Sorted!
26 June 2009

Cuddly kittens
24 June 2009

Cat's Cycling Challenge
6 June 2009

More Arrival Packs arrive, this time in Croydon
4 June 2009

Continuing support for a youth activities worker at the Refugee Council
21 May 2009