CRRC is a registered charity for the purpose of supporting the resettlement of refugees in the Cambridge area. We are a volunteer-run group of Cambridgeshire residents which was formed in 2015 at the height of the current migrant crisis, when the media was filled with images of the misery of the camps and the tragedy of failed attempts to reach them. We wanted to help by welcoming refugees into our community. Originally focused on fundraising and lobbying local government, we were helped to organise by Citizens UK and became a registered charity in 2017.
We provide a wide range of practical support to resettled refugee families and work closely with the Cambridge City and Cambridgeshire County Councils and other local stakeholders. We advocate on behalf of our service-users for their wellbeing, assistance with housing, healthcare and education. This means:
- sourcing items of furniture and household equipment according to identified needs
- offering laptops and phones for educational and administrative purposes
- offering bicycles to enable travel to jobs or schools
- helping new families to settle in by tidying gardens and equipping homes
- chaperoning service-users at medical appointments and offering a doula service for expectant mothers
- providing one-to-one help with homework for school-age children
- running English for Speakers of Other Languages classes with childcare for the benefit of mothers with young children
- organising programmes of outings and activities during the school holidays
- partnering with individuals and groups able to assist with translation and educational opportunities
- getting the families together twice a term for a social event where they can meet each other and our volunteers
- arranging counselling and advice for service-users
- offering hardship grants to families in distress
- assistance with the cost of driving lessons and dentistry
- giving talks and presentations about refugee issues, particularly at local schools.
Follow @camrefugees.bsky.social and join our Facebook group for regular updates.
Our structure
Responsibilities
CRRC Board of Trustees
- Governance
- Strategy
- Compliance
- Legal & ethical responsibilities
- Policies & Procedures
- Donor Stewardship
- Financial oversight
- Safeguarding
- Charity Commission contact & reporting
Core Committee
- Family support
- Educational support: ESOL for adults, tutoring for children
- Employability and mobility
- Culture & activities: after-school clubs, holiday activities, socials
- Campaigns, outreach and communication
- Interpretation & translation
- Admin, systems & IT
- Volunteer support