Winter warmer for refugees

REFUGEES in the Henley area were thrown a festive party.

The third “Winter Warmer” took place at the Friends (Quakers) Meeting House, in Northfield End on Monday.

About 20 volunteers for Care4Calais helped stage the event, led by Val Johnstone and her daughter Sam Jonkers.

Guests were served a selection of dishes, including ratatouille, vegetable stew, bread, rice, cakes and soft drinks.

They also pulled Christmas crackers and played games, including Jenga, while music was provided by DJ Jamie Taylor, who lives in Henley.

On leaving the party, the refugees were given bags containing clothes, shoes, warm hats and chocolate. They could also take away any of the leftover food with them.

Mr Taylor, who has lived in Henley for about 30 years, said: “I love doing this gig. Val asks me every year to come and do this and it’s always a yes straight away, without any questions whatsoever.

“All the music I’m playing today is a mix of all the music of where these people are from. I had to do a little bit of homework and prepare some mixes and set lists, all from their hometowns.

“Hopefully it makes them feel a bit more settled. It’s nice to be able to put some music together that hopefully these guys will recognise.”

Mrs Johnstone, of Middle Assendon, lived in France for 15 years, where she and her husband would help refugees before moving back to the UK in 2020.

It was while visiting her in France that her daughter was inspired to join Care4Calais in the UK about five years ago, which delivers emergency aid to refugees.

Mrs Johnstone said: “We’re really grateful to the Quakers, whose building we are in, as they are really keen to encourage us to do this.

“I really want to say thank you to them because not only have they encouraged us, they’re here helping us and they give us donations during the year.”

“The village in which I live are brilliant at helping me, they all know what I want. If their husbands have bought new clothes, I get a bag outside the door. Their clothes are all in such good condition, I get brilliant stuff.

“I’ll go out and when I come back in, quite often there’s a bag at the door and it’s donations. Everybody is really helpful and supportive.” Ruth Tod, the clerk of Henley Quakers, was volunteering at the party.

She said: “Last year, our Snowdrop Sunday event, which we hold every February when the snowdrops are ready, raised more than £400 for Care4Calais. We think it’s a great thing that Val is doing and we are really proud to have her among us.

“We love coming here and it’s absolutely great to see the Meeting House used in this way with all of these people celebrating. We just want to wish them all the best for the next stage in their journey.”

Ahmed Wadi is a volunteer with Care4Calais, as well as an asylum seeker. He helps the organisation as an Arabic translator and with events every Sunday since August.

He said: “The volunteers are very generous inviting us here. It’s lovely to enjoy these vibes altogether.

“Sam and her mother are very welcoming people and we are so grateful for all of their support.”

Muhammed Misbah Abdelgadir is a volunteer with Care4Calais, as well as an engineer and Arabic translator.

He said: “We have very limited resources in this country, so when we find an event like this, it’s a good change for us to come here.

“Sam is doing great with us. She is like an angel for our hotel.”

Ms Jonkers said: “It’s really lovely to help people who have very little and who are normally stuck in hotel rooms to get out and have a day out.

“We’ve also invited all of the helpers who help us throughout the year because there’s lots of them who help us translate and they run a free café and clubs for us and for other people.

“It’s really nice to have a chance to say thank you, and happy Christmas, where people will be away from families and feeling lonely. We hope that this will be a day to come together and for people to feel part of a community.”