Rachel Brockie, The Children’s Society, Regional Fundraising Manager 

THE plight of migrating refugees continues to dominate headlines, and as winter approaches, the already diabolical conditions worsen. I have been heartened by the offers of help that have rung out from communities across England, and I am aware of those who ponder the best way to help a difficult situation.

As a mother, I feel immense gratitude that I have been able to raise my children in a safe, democratic county that is not rife with warring factions, and where basic human rights are observed.

Thankfully, I do not need to move to a new country, but what if I had been less fortunate? If I felt that my only option to keep my children safe was to spend all my savings on a journey half way around the world to a country where I was unable to speak the language, arriving only in the clothes on my back? How would this whole process have affected my children’s wellbeing?

The Children’s Society have been working with migrants and refugee young people for years – to our project workers, this is not a new situation. Our project in Oxford provides a range of service for child refuge, asylum seekers and migrants.

Part of the project’s work provides an orientation programme to children who have made this journey alone – how much danger must their lives have been in when they were in their home country for them to leave unaccompanied?

In the Bible the writer of Hebrews exhorts us: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them.”

The Orientation Programme provides these children, some as young as 12 years old, with hospitality and support they need.

There can be no compromise when it comes to offering support for children escaping horrors, and with your support, The Children’s Society is there to help.