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 formed in 2016, to take practical action in response to the Syrian Refugee crisis. RRN’s remit has since expanded to support people widely affected by conflict, such as asylum seekers, refugees resettled here through the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme and, since 2022, Ukrainian refugees.

We are a small charity with three part-time members of staff, a dedicated group of 31 volunteers and eight members of the Board of Trustees. We help refugees and asylum seekers build a new life in the UK by providing housing and community support, education, training and small grants for essentials such as clothing, IT equipment or furniture.

Our discreet projects respond to identified local needs, such as ESOL classes for Ukranian refugees and our Youth Discovery NEST which supports local unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people.

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.

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 2025 and we will be really appreciative of volunteers to organise and support these.

The Big June Cake Sale – this is a repeat of our successful Cake Sale at the Lordington House Open Gardens weekend. 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.

We are 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 our 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