The cute couple...

...as we were called by one of a few self-important, patronising bureaucrats we have met, who don't do any of the work on the ground. We managed to get thrown out of the food tent this morning for sitting down with two women who want to come to England, one of whom made a poster for us. The concern is that there are a number of reports of attempted people trafficking. Most people, volunteers, are lovely and do their job with great humour lots of different languages, the common one, kindness.

We carried on our work outside, including helping a woman who had lost her passport and needed support with what to do next. As she was destitute we offered to pay for her train ticket to return to a town on the border with Ukraine where she has to complete a UK visa application. 

The positive, at the end, is that we have two families who, in the near future, will hopefully be able to settle with families in the Trawden area. 

All the refugees we have met are non-complaining and we have to remind ourselves that most have come with very little or nothing at all. Many seem uncomfortable with accepting charity and are glad to help if they're offered the opportunity. Without exception, all those who want to come to the UK have no interest in going on benefits and wish to carry on with the careers they've left behind. 

Most of the rest of the day was spent in various roles in the food tent, e.g serving soup. 

Also attached are a couple of photos of the 'tent city,' which includes the second hand clothes tent (always a long queue), sleeping tent (closed during the day) and food tent (open 24 hours). There's always quite a high profile police presence, which is reassuring. 

At the end of the day there was a protest march to the Russian embassy but we were much too tired. 

Photos are, unfortunately, in reverse order! 

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