Refugee Donation Drop Off Centre opens at Redbridge Town Hall

The Redbridge Refugee Donation Drop Off Centre is open and already brimming with contributions from generous Redbridge residents.

Since opening, last week in the first two days at least 50 members of the public donated pushchairs, boxes of nappies, baby sterilising units, suitcases and other essential and much-needed items. One kind donor contributed 100 brand new copies of the Quaran, and one Redbridge resident came to the centre asking what was needed, before going shopping and returning with goods bought from stores in Ilford High Street.

The centre will be open on Mondays and Thursdays between 10 am to 4 pm until Thursday 14 October. 

Yesterday (13 September) Leader of Redbridge Council, Cllr Jas Athwal, Major Phil Howe from the Salvation Army and the Mayor of Redbridge, Cllr Roy Emmett visited the drop-off centre.

Leader of Redbridge Council, Cllr Jas Athwal, said:

“Working with our partners including the Salvation Army, CVS and London Plus, I am absolutely delighted we have managed to open our donation centre at Redbridge Town Hall in Ilford.

“Yesterday, I got to see for myself some of the items already donated from our residents which will support refugees. We have only been open for two days and have already made a fantastic start in getting donations for refugees.

“Redbridge has a long history of welcoming people from all over the world who have made our borough their home, and I am proud of the desire shown by local residents to help those in need, especially in light of the tragic scenes that we have seen in Afghanistan over the last few months.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our partners in the voluntary sector who are helping to get the donations to those that need them the most.

"I also want to thank people for their generosity in supporting our drop-off centre which will be open for the next six weeks every Monday and Thursday to take in donations."

The Salvation Army’s leader in Ilford, Major Phil Howe, who was also at the centre with Cllr Athwal yesterday, added:

“The situation in Afghanistan has touched the hearts of many local people.  Across the UK, Salvation Army churches and centres are working with local authorities in areas where refugees are temporarily housed to ensure they are supported.

"The Salvation Army in Ilford is proud to be part of a community that puts concern into practical action, always ready to help those who need support, whether local or from afar.”

The Redbridge Refugee Donation Drop Off Centre has been organised in a partnership between Redbridge Council and the local voluntary sector.

Located at Redbridge Town Hall, it is being staffed by volunteers from Ilford Salvation Army.

Donations will be collected from the Town Hall and then taken by volunteers to a CVS distribution centre in Havering. Here the donations will be sorted and staff from the charity London Plus will distribute them to families across north east London

Clothes are not required but we are looking for good quality:

• Pushchairs
• Baby baths
• New baby bottles
• Sterilising units
• Sterilising tablets
• Working suitcases and holdalls
• Headscarves
• Prayer mats
• Qurans
• Flip flops
• Sandals
• Sliders