SWAN TO ORGANISE SOLIDARITY CONVOY TO CALAIS REFUGEES

 

SWAN is inviting all supporters and all social work student groups across the country to join us by raising funds to bring a car or a van full of goods to the Euro Star terminal in Kent in October 17. Please remember to book your transport into the train! Student support for the convoy is already overwhelmingly strong and October 17th gives social work courses across the UK time to mobilise. All are welcome and encouraged to coordinate with us.

In conjunction with Stand Up to Racism the convoy will take the train from Kent to Calais on Saturday 17 October where we will meet up with local activists to take good and clothes to ‘the jungle’ in Calais.

SWAN national coordinator Michael Lavalette said:

“People are appalled at the scale of suffering and misery being inflicted on refugees by European governments. The response of the UK government to the crisis has been shameful.

“Working with local organisations in Calais we intend to bring solidarity to refugees in ‘The Jungle’ in Calais. We want to challenge the racist discourse about refugees. We want to make it clear that “refugees are welcome here”.

“Historically many social workers have played an important role in supporting refugees and migrants – going right back to the Spanish civil war. This is part of our history. It’s right that social workers stand up to racism and support some of the most vulnerable people in the world”.

In the next few days we will be announcing the kind of goods and materials needed in Calais. We will also announce the train we intend to take to France. Please follow developments at www.socialworkfuture.org.

If you are interested in joining the convoy please call 07739729214 for further details.

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We want to develop a network of service users, practicitioners, academics and students to support radical and progressive social work. We need a social work that is ready to challenge oppressive practice, that means working collectively across the country and internationally to advance Social Work.