Rural Refugee Network

Our Mission

Our mission is to help bring refugees to safety in the UK and, once here, to help them successfully resettle into their new communities. RNN offers grants for education, training and employment to families and young people placed across Hampshire.

We are urgently seeking landlords with apartments or houses available in Hampshire so we can help the government fulfil its commitment to house the most vulnerable directly from refugee camps in the Middle East. Please contact us and find out about the package of support and funding that is available. Do please get in touch with us at hello@ruralrefugeenetwork.org

Who we are and how we started.

Taking practical action to help the refugee crisis

The Rural Refugee Network (RRN) was set up in September 2015 by a group of volunteers in the Hampshire and West Sussex area with the express aim of taking practical action to help the current Syrian Refugee crisis.

Recognising that the Government’s Syrian Vulnerable Persons initiative doesn’t reach far enough, and is not accessing rural areas, RRN took the decision to create something to help address this. Our group is made up of individuals from a cross section of life and includes senior level leaders from health and social care, business, education, construction, media and planning.

Refugee Families
So far we have successfully settled 14 refugee families in Hampshire.
Grants
30 + grants made to help refugees with training, education and business start ups.
100 Volunteers
Since inception, we’ve had over 100 incredible volunteers and supporters help raise money, organise, inform and resettle Syrian and Afghan families, as well as local asylum-seeking individuals and families.

PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS

Latest News

Christmas Message from The Trustees

Dear RRN supporter,

I’d like to thank you for being part of the RRN community this year and to share my reflections this holiday season. As a trustee I have been really inspired by chatting to volunteers and supporters, enjoying fascinating conversations with dedicated local people who quietly provide a warm welcome and practical support. Without you, RRN’s impact would not be possible.

As I look forward to my sons coming home for Christmas, I find myself reflecting on those who have had to leave everything and everyone they love behind. The headlines bear disheartening messages and heartbreaking news of fresh conflict. Together you, through RRN's very special community, show that there are people who care. You create hope, empathy and shared humanity in our corner of the world.

I was inspired by a gathering of volunteers last week to make a Christmas donation. Please do join me if you are able to and visit https://www.justgiving.com/RuralRefugeeNetwork today. It's one small way to express your commitment to making the world a more compassionate place. To make everyone feel welcomed and settled, to help them to thrive here.

We are planning lots of opportunities to get involved next year. In particular, do put the art sale, on the evening of 4 March at Bedales, in your diary and join us for a really special evening (https://www.bedales.org.uk/news/major-new-art-sale-announced). We’ll be in touch after the holidays to tell you more and to update on recent activity and more ways to get involved.

For now, let me leave you and your loved ones with my very warm wishes for the holiday season and my thanks for being part of the wonderful RRN community.

With love on behalf of the RRN trustees

Kath Lawrence

Future Events

As many know, the Rural Refugee Network depends upon a series of fundraising events each year. These are our plans for 2024 and we will be really appreciative of volunteers to organise and support each event.

Monday March 4th at Bedales School – ART SALE – this is usually our biggest fundraiser. While work is well under way, we are looking forward to both purchasers and helpers on the day. And there is still time to enter a painting, since the deadline closes at the end of January. Please contact Andy on housing@ruralrefugeenetwork.org if you can help.

The Big June Cake Sale – this is a repeat of our successful 2023 Cake Sale. We need volunteers to bake the cakes over half a day or join us, to sell, talk about us or buy a cake or two. Please contact Kay via fundraising@ruralrefugeenetwork.org if you can help.

Friday June 21st 7pm at Refugee Week Quiz – following on from last year’s successful quiz we have a quizmaster but we need a volunteer to lead on organising the venue, refreshments and seeking out raffle prizes. Please contact Andy on housing@ruralrefugeenetwork.org if this could be you.

Sunday June 23rd – Cyclists and sponsors are needed for a group of supporters to take on a Refugee Week Randonee. You or your nominated champion can take on a 55km or 100km ride, with each ride having a leader. We’d ask you to raise a minimum of £100 in sponsorship, pay your own ferry fare and bring a good bike! Please contact Andy at housing@ruralrefugeenetwork.org if you’d like to discuss taking part.

We are also looking for volunteers to lead on the following:

You Decide – we welcome volunteers with great fundraising ideas. Are you celebrating a big life event? Are you a musician, athlete or artist who can use an opportunity to raise awareness and funds? As Captain Bob proved, you don’t need to climb Everest, but people do respond to challenges of all kinds. We can offer advice and publicity to help you to manage your activity, based upon over 30 years of fundraising experience.

December – to organise a Christmas Collection in Petersfield or Alton. We will need permission from a venue, collection tins, a RRN display and people to collect the donations. Please contact Andy on housing@ruralrefugeenetwork.org if this could be you.

Finally, we are looking for corporate sponsors for each and all of these events. If you own, work for, or know someone who owns a business that could put its name to our work we would be pleased to meet up and discuss how this could work. Please contact hello@ruralrefugeenetwork.org

If you would like to donate to the Rural Refugee Network, please click here.

Donate

If you are interested in getting involved please fill in the form below