Yesterday, news broke that 39 people had died in a lorry in Essex while attempting to enter the UK. The details of their deaths are incredibly disturbing and undeniably horrific. If you read the story and felt hopeless then you’re not alone.
It’s easy to feel like there is nothing you can do when news this distressing breaks. While there is nothing that can be done to change this horrific story, there are some steps that you can take to try and avoid this kind of tragedy happening again.
Donate
The quickest and easiest way that you can help refugees and asylum seekers who are attempting to escape to the UK is by donating money. Refugee Action is a charity that helps people who have reached the UK to build a life here and uses the donated money to find safe places for people to stay.
The British Red Cross works with refuges and asylum seekers across the UK, funding food and clothing as well as casework advice.
Volunteer
If you’ve got directly relevant skills, like nursing or being a doctor, you can donate your time via[ Doctors of the World. ](https://www.doctorsoftheworld.org.uk/.org.uk/)
Otherwise, you can volunteer to host an asylum seeker via the Boaz Trust.
Migrant Help is another charity that helps migrant people – they’re not currently taking new volunteers but you can keep an eye on their website for opportunities.
Lobbying
There are several lobbying organisations you can support. Safe Passage is a project that helps people take ‘legal routes to sanctuary.’ You can donate your time or your money or follow their guide to assist in their lobbying.
Write To Your MP
Let your local MP know that the safety of people attempting to under the UK is paramount to you and ask what they will do to protect that safety. With a general election on the cards they should be increasingly willing to answer your questions.