Crossroads Foundation’s Post

I had a different post setup for this week, but with what is happening in the UK is very disturbing. It is so sad to think we are going so many steps backward. We do have to remember though that these views are not a majority but a minority. My co-founder is English, and I am a child of an immigrant who left India to go to the U.S.A for a better life. Our collaboration is helping the business because we come from different backgrounds and therefore have different views. Those views help us to navigate in a way a single-sided view wouldn't. Here are just some refugees who had to flee their countries and what they contributed to the UK: - #YeukaiTaruvinga - founder of Active Horizon, fled Zimbabwe. - Sir Montague Burton – Founded Burton retail, refugee from Lithuania. - #Oksana and Oleksii Chaiun - founded Light Craft Family, fled from Ukraine. - Sir John Houblon – First Governor of the Bank of England, grandson of refugees. - Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia – Euro Car Parts, fled from Uganda. - Michael Marks – One of the founders of Marks and Spencer, Russian refugee. Finally, if you're in the mood to support any refugee helpful organizations, here are two amazing ones. Let's help some positive organisations that help people in negative situations. 1) https://lnkd.in/dyVxBNez- where your donated clothes can be shopped for free by refugees.-Such a great platform Sol Escobar 2) https://lnkd.in/dwuWDYbM - a platform where refugees sell products for their business. #ukriot

In the midst of our daily routines, we must remember the ongoing crisis affecting millions in Ukraine. Over 6.5 million refugees have been forced to leave their homes, seeking safety and stability in foreign lands. Additionally, 3.7 million people remain internally displaced, facing immense challenges within their own country. These numbers are more than statistics—they represent families, children, and individuals struggling to rebuild their lives amidst adversity. 🌍 Through the CSRN Refugee Initiative, we have committed to supporting non-profits around the globe who work to create opportunities and solve challenges for refugees in home and host countries. As a global community, we must continue to provide support, raise awareness, and advocate for lasting solutions to this humanitarian crisis. Every effort counts, from donating to trusted organisations to amplifying their stories and needs. If you are a charity aiming to create a meaningful impact, we are here to help. Book a call with us today! Together, we can make a difference. #Ukraine #Refugees #HumanRights #GlobalSupport #StandWithUkraine #HumanitarianAid #CSRNInitiative

How will you stand up? It wasn't long ago that I sat in the Scottish Refugee Council offices in Glasgow to talk about the partnership with Amiqus. We have committed £100k of funding to support the fantastic work delivered by the charity. This was at a time when Rwanda flights were still on the table, amongst a range of other Government-backed policies to step up the so-called 'hostile environment'. I was really inspired when Dr Sabir Zazai (OBE, FRSE) talked about how Amiqus' financial contribution was important but really the value was in having an organisation stand up against the prevailing anti-asylum rhetoric and publicly declare their support. Looking at the violence across the UK over the past weeks, it is perhaps unsurprising that we have gotten to this place. My hope is that out of the horror and hate, perhaps some small good might emerge in the form of individuals and organisations understanding the urgent need to also take a stand. At Amiqus, our next effort is to 'Zip Slide the Clyde'. This will see the team brave a 100ft zip line across the Clyde. If you're disgusted by recent events, you can counter-protest by making a donation to our Just Giving page. https://lnkd.in/eJ4F-D7P Better yet, reach out to the team at the Scottish Refugee Council and see if your organisation could help for the longer term. All of us are just a set of bad circumstances away from being asylum seekers or refugees. Your support is needed now more than ever 💙 #scottishrefugeecouncil #zipslidetheclyde #refugeeswelcome #purposeledbusiness #supportrefugees #humanrights

To mark Refugee Week we’re looking back at our partnership with RSG (Refugee Support Group), a charitable organisation which aims to reduce poverty, suffering and social isolation of people who have already faced unimaginable hardship. As a charitable organisation, with no access to legal aid and no funding to commission human interpreters, the RSG faced significant challenges in breaking down the language barriers with the people they help. We donated a Pocketalk device to help the 5,000 to 10,000 refugees living in the community that the charity operates in. Typically almost all refugees (around 99%), will not speak English as a first language. Often the RSG can be faced with extremely complicated asylum cases and progressing these cases will involve complex and difficult situations. With 84 languages covered in one Pocketalk device, it meant that in just six months, the Pocketalk device had been used in over 60 instances with clients – at least three times a week – and, more than half of those cases would have required a qualified interpreter. This resulted in a cost saving of over £1,000, in just a few months. This is crucial for organisations such as RSG, which rely solely on the public’s donations and support. If you think we could help your organisation, get in touch. #RefugeeWeek #RefugeeSupport #EAL

To mark Refugee Week 2024, Spires would like to discuss the work we’re doing in supporting newly granted refugees in London who are experiencing homelessness. Every Tuesday, Spires holds a drop-in service with Croydon Refugee Day Centre, to help refugees who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. We help with immediate needs, providing emergency packs and sleeping bags before completing referrals to the council, Streetlink and direct referrals into housing. To date 78 different people have received support from Spires, with over 20 people being helped to exit homelessness and safely into accommodation. This case study is one example of the work our team are doing to help homeless refugees. “EL attended our Croydon refugee service after being given notice to vacate the hotel. As a young, healthy male with no dependents he was not a priority for Council accommodation. With no support network in the UK, he didn’t know what to do. EL’s caseworker provided him a sleeping bag, food, toiletries and helped him apply for accommodation. Spires helped EL prepare for his assessment, advising him of what would happen and the documents he would need to provide. A week later, EL avoided street homeless, as he was offered a hostel space.” If you would like to show your appreciation for work such as this, please consider supporting Spires in any capacity you can. Should you wish to donate, please visit our website here - https://lnkd.in/dsj2TFK8. 📷 Balloon – by Tobias Madden #refugees #refugeeweek2024 #refugeeweek #refugee #homeless #homelessness #endhomelessness #london #costofliving #community #support #charity #donation #donate #donations #friday #makeadifference

In the quiet corners of Greece, untold stories of resilience unfold daily as refugees face unimaginable hardships. Let's join hands to make a difference! Refugees endure challenges that test the limits of their strength—struggling for shelter, safety, and a chance to rebuild their lives. Embrace Relief invites you to be a part of our "Untold Stories of Refugees" campaign. Your support can bring a glimmer of hope to those facing adversity. 🤝 How You Can Help: 🏡 Rent Assistance: Contribute to providing safe havens for 75 refugee families. Every donation, big or small, transforms lives. Let's rewrite these untold stories with compassion and empowerment. Share this post and amplify the call to support refugees in Greece. Together, we can be the change they desperately need. #UntoldStories #RefugeesInGreece #MakeADifference

2.4 MILLION PEOPLE UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency has estimated that a staggering 2.4 million people will be forcibly displaced in 2024. This is a 20% increase since last year, meaning that the refugee crisis is accelerating, and so must our efforts to combat it. That's: 2.4 million people in need of shelter. 2.4 million people in need of food. 2.4 million people in need of medical and social support. 2.4 million people in need of humanity. This problem is by no means an easy fix, but at Indigo we believe that small actions create a big impact. In 2023 we placed 334 volunteers who contributed to 26,857 days of volunteering for our wonderful charity partners who work tirelessly to provide essential aid and support to refugees across Europe. 👉Find out more about Indigo Volunteers, and what you can do to make a difference in the lives of refugees: https://lnkd.in/eixGmTEB

Recently, while exploring the vibrant corridors of Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai, I had a serendipitous encounter with a UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency stand. It was a moment of revelation to discover how even modest monthly contributions can significantly uplift the lives of refugee families, infusing them with dignity and hope for a brighter future. Committing to a monthly donation means aligning yourself with the resilience of these families, supporting them not just in the immediate but in their journey to rebuild their lives. Such contributions ensure shelter, sustenance, and, most importantly, hope, enabling them to look forward with optimism. The beauty of monthly donations lies in their consistency. They provide #UNHCR with a reliable foundation to plan effectively and extend life-saving support to millions in need, both in the MENA region and globally. By opting for a monthly contribution, you don't just donate; you become a beacon of hope and dignity for the world's most vulnerable. This commitment offers you insights into the tangible impacts of your generosity, connects you with a community of like-minded individuals, and grants you a dedicated contact within the organization. Sharing a photo capturing a symbolic moment - adjusting the tally to 3,337 - representing the growing number of families whose lives are being transformed. Let's stand together for humanity. Every contribution, no matter the size, creates a ripple of hope and change. (Click on the link in comments for more information.) #UNHCR #RefugeeSupport #DignityForAll #Hope #ChangeMakers #GlobalSolidarity #GiveBack

🎯 Want to know how to help people achieve their goals? 🎯 Our approach needs to be: 🔷 Person-centred & empowering 🔷 Asset-based 🔷 Structured 🔷 Accountable & transparent https://lnkd.in/eYZ6T6u4 #refugeesupport #charity #nonprofit

**Real Estate Leaders + Refugee Resettlement = ** Our team attended MIT Center for Real Estate's World Real Estate Forum last week & hosted a lunch discussion on the #RefugeeWelcomingRentalMarket with C-suite executives from Redevco, Fannie Mae (the 4th-largest company in the world!), and more. We’re making connections that have a ton of potential, but need your help to continue serving refugees & landlords. Please donate or share our GoFundMe for grassroots support (LINK IN COMMENTS) sooner rather than later, since platforms like GoFundMe boost campaigns that boom in the first week! #refugees #realestate