Calling all those MNers from the original refugee post

[Theremustbesomething]

Hi All,

Slightly to my surprise, I got a response from my rather nice MP to my letters about the refugee crisis. She is trying to start a nationwide initiative to raise money for Syrian refugees, holding carol services this Christmas using the same sort of model as the Macmillan coffee morning; you register, you get a pack of carols, readings etc, in case you want to use them, and you just sort out the venue and invite your friends.

I thought long and hard before posting this here. I fully appreciate that Mumsnet has no religious affiliation and I wavered back and forth over whether this was an appropriate forum for it.

However, I have on the end posted it because as a number of other posters have already noted, I feel that this is neither a political nor a religious issue, but a humanitarian one. I suspect that most of us, whether we consider ourselves to be religious or not, will attend a carol service of some sort this Christmas. Whatever our views on religion, I think most of us would agree that Christmas is still a time when we take stock of how lucky we are to be living somewhere where our children are safe - where we don't have to weigh up on a daily or hourly basis whether putting them in leaking boats to cross a freezing, dark sea is more dangerous than staying in a war zone.

It would be fantastic if this could take off this Christmas. I have tried to attach an information sheet setting out more details but for some reason the system won't let me attach it here. If anyone would like a copy, please just PM me and I'll send it over. Essentially, you just need to:

1. email [email protected] for your pack;
   

1. find a venue; and
   

1. invite friends/colleagues etc.
   

Please, please could I ask that you each consider taking this up in your local preschool or choir or football club etc this Christmas, and spreading the word as far and widely as possible to friends and family? If you happen to attend a church, please could you raise it with your vicar? Religion aside, we will all hear a lot at Christmas time about people who travel a very long way and have nowhere to stay. That must surely resonate this Christmas. It could be any of us.

Even if you don't think you can assist, please could you bump this thread so that the word travels as far as possible?

Thanks for reading; sorry that was quite long!

[Theremustbesomething]

And apologies for the grammatical inaccuracy of the title. I am trying to read "Stick Man" repeatedly whilst typing with my other hand...

[Theremustbesomething]

Bump.

[TiredButFineODFOJ]

Bump

[whiskeytangofoxtrot]

Bumping
Out of interest - Who is your MP?

[Theremustbesomething]

Ah, thanks both! I was fearing that this would never see the top of the thread list again.

She's called Victoria Prentis. I suspect that she and I might possibly have fairly different leanings on some other political issues but to my astonishment, she rang me to have a chat about my emails on the refugee crisis (while I was giving DD dinner - that was slightly tricky) and she was really nice and very "human". I feel a bit guilty for being so surprised about this (but I found the last one significantly less so...)

She said that she'd been a fundraiser in her pre-MP days and so was trying to apply the knowledge she'd picked up then to the current refugee situation. I have asked MN if they might be willing to add this to their Refugee campaign, but was told to start a thread.

Please could people keep bumping this? I would be really grateful. Thank you!

[LaContessaDiPlump]

Gosh you're unreasonable There thanks for flagging this, I would be happy to participate.

[Theremustbesomething]

Fantastic, Contessa. Thank you! I'll PM you the flyer now.

[eedon]

Unfortunately I'm traveling this nov-Dec, so can't do it myself. But such a great cause, I will pass on to a friend.

[Aridane]

Thanks for this, Theremustbesomething - though I think you are brave to post this in AIBU...

Do you know which organization funds raised go to?

Thanks, Aridane

(= fellow marcher on the Mumsnet contingent a few weeks ago)

[Theremustbesomething]

I was just doing it for the traffic, really. I have asked MNHQ to connect it to chat also - I'm a bit of a dinosaur, I'm afraid, and I couldn't work out how to link it the other way around! I was working on the basis that offering asylum in the UK might divide opinion, but that helping people in Syria presumably was something with which most people would agree.

I've cut and pasted the text from the information sheet below. Apologies; it's not very user-friendly when I do it this way, but for some reason it isn't possible to attach the pdf. The charities they've suggested are:

? Hands Up Foundation: www.handsupfoundation.org/
? Christian Aid: www.christianaid.org.uk/



SINGING FOR SYRIANS
Helping the most desperate people in and around Syria
“Singing for Syrians” is a nationwide initiative offering a positive way
to raise money for some of Syria’s most vulnerable people. Since 2011,
Syria has been devastated by civil war, and its people have suffered
greatly. Successful concerts would also set a precedent for subsequent
years, which will be vital if we are to help Syria to recover from the
current disaster.
We are encouraging individuals, local communities and churches
across the UK to hold their own carol concert, so far as possible within
the month of December, so it can be marked as a “national” event.
Food and drink will be an important part of the events, and sponsorship
from local firms will be heavily encouraged.
HOW YOU CAN HELP

• organise your own concert
  A ‘How To’ pack will be available from 9 October free in the post or by email. This will include:
  sponsorship ideas, hymn choices, readings with a Christmas theme, suggestions for churches with
  choirs and organs, options for schools, printouts for pews, recipe suggestions for refreshments etc.
  
• raise money at an event you are already holding
  We recognise that time is short, and you may want to collect for “Singing for Syrians” at an event that
  your church or school has already planned. Details of the charities can be sent to you, and collection
  buckets are available.
  
• attend our very special Carols in St Margaret’s Westminster, on Tuesday 15 December at 6pm
  Tickets on sale soon. Sponsorship opportunities available.
  WHO ARE WE SUPPORTING?
  Will the money go to Syria? Yes. Every penny raised will go to two carefully selected charities;
  ? Hands Up Foundation: www.handsupfoundation.org/
  ? Christian Aid: www.christianaid.org.uk/
  CONTACT
  For your ‘How To’ pack, sponsorship opportunities and other enquiries please email:
  [email protected] or telephone: 01869-233-685.

[theDudesmummy]

Hi, I am still around. I am very anxious to continue to help with this crisis, and am currently working on collecting and knitting for the Woolly Hugs refugee campaign and on collectng for Samara's Aid Appeal. But carol services would not be something I culd really organise or get involved with (nothing against it, although I have no religion, just would have no way of doing it). But if people want to help with the knitting and collections, including using me as a stopoff point for tems (in North London) I am very happy to do that.

[kateemo]

Yes. Please PM me with the information. My daughter's Christian pre-school has already agreed to undertake some kind of fundraising but most donation schemes are not accepting gifts. They've tentatively agreed on the Save the Children Christmas jumper day, but no reason why this couldn't be considered also. I also will approach older daughter's Catholic primary and our church.

Loads of people celebrate Christmas day in their own way, whether they are religious or not, so I don't see why anyone should get sore pants over a loving and beautiful gesture.

Thanks for doing this.

[Theremustbesomething]

Fantastic - thanks very much, Kateemo.

[CesareBorgiasUnicornMask]

Hi - I'd love to do something like this. I could try to approach my church and/or some people on my university course and see if they would be interested in doing something about it. Will try to get in touch.

[imsorryihaventaclue]

Thanks for this and keeping this subject going. My daughter keeps talking about the march and her ears prick up every time Syria is mentioned on the radio. It's definitely started to develop her social conscience!

Interestingly, I just got a response from my MP, having given up expecting to hear back. Mine was much less useful simply stating he'd raised mine and other constituents concerns with Theresa May and attaching a letter from her listing the UK Governments current responses. My MP is John Bercow, the Speaker of the House.

[Theremustbesomething]

Thanks very much, Cesare - that would be great. Mumsnet warms the cockles of your heart, sometimes.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I'll respondto your pm a bit later about what we are doing in our area.

[HexBramble]

I'm glad to see this.

I can approach my chapel and we are linked with many smaller chapels in the South Wales area - I can certainly see something like this being supported.

I'll also ask the governing body in my school whether we could possibly run this. I can pass this to DH who can email every primary school across 2 boroughs and my local MP (Carolyn Harries, Swansea East) I'm pretty certain will be interested. She wrote back to me to show her support with the March last month.

I feel unnerved that the cold is coming and reports on his refugee crisis seem to be easing off.

[Theremustbesomething]

Thanks very much, Hexbramble. That would be wonderful. I agree it's pretty frightening.

[horsewalksintoabar]

You are awesome OP! I am so moved by your tenacity. I am very involved in my church and would be delighted to present this idea to our parish. Please PM me! Please. Our Catholic parish works very closely with other religious organisations in our borough.

[horsewalksintoabar]

Don't worry about PM-ing me, OP. I copied your info and sent off the email for a how to pack. Thanks so much!!

[CuttedUpPear]

Great thread OP and brilliant that you got your MP on board.

For those of you concerned about the cold weather coming in, my friend, who is an accomplished metalworker, is running a project building strong and safe wood burning stoves to be taken out to the camps in Calais.

You can help by donating to the material costs here:

crowdfunding.justgiving.com/wood-burning-stoves-for-refugee-camps

[DaftVader36]

Bumping with a link from UNICEF with the same idea, also they are receiving matched fundraising from the UK government.

Great idea OP

UNICEF sing for Syria

[Misty9]

Have just pledged cutted . A great thing your friend is doing. Will look into the carol thing too.

[CuttedUpPear]

Thank you Misty.