Support for refugees and people in crisis

Introducing Leicester

Leicester is pronounced ‘Lester’. It is the largest city in the East Midlands of England, with a population of around 350,000.

Over the past 60 years, people from all over the world have settled here, making Leicester a very diverse city, with people from many different backgrounds and faiths.

You may have heard of Leicester through the success of our football team, Leicester City FC, or our connection to King Richard III and the discovery of his burial place in 2012.

Leicester has a rich history and a wide range of things to see and do – including free museums, as well as cinemas, theatres, restaurants and other entertainment venues. It is a green city with a number of parks and open spaces to enjoy.

Leicester City Council is responsible for many of the major decisions affecting the lives of the city’s residents, communities and businesses. Find out more about Leicester City Council and what it does.

Cash donations

One of the best ways to help is by donating cash through trusted charities, rather than donating goods. Cash can be transferred quickly to areas where it is needed and allows aid organisations to buy the most essential items.

If you want to support those providing humanitarian relief you can donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee Appeal.

DEC charities are working with local partners to provide refugees and displaced people with food, water, blankets, hygiene items, medical assistance, protection and trauma care.

Ukraine

We're working closely with the Ukrainian community in Leicester. To find out more, and see a list of items needed, go to the Leicester Ukrainian Community website.

Giving safely

Lot of organisations in the UK and overseas have launched appeals, and people may wish to donate through these organisations instead. Here are some simple steps to take to ensure donations are safe and being used effectively:

• Check the charity’s name and registration number at gov.uk/checkcharity (English and Welsh charities only)
• Most charities with an income of £5,000 or more must be registered, which means they are regulated by the Charity Commission. (English and Welsh charities only)
• Make sure the charity is genuine before giving any financial information.
• If in doubt, ask the charity or organisation for more information.

Other support for refugees

If you are still keen to help you could make a financial donation or offer your time to one of the local or national charities in the city that supports refugees and unaccompanied asylum seekers from all over the world. These include:

• City of Sanctuary
• British Red Cross
• After 18