photo by @abdul_saboor079
WHO WE ARE
We are a consortium of six organisations working in solidarity with displaced communities at the UK-France border. In the border zone, people on the move face extremely precarious living situations and continuous human rights abuses. Within this context, we provide direct support at the informal living sites around Calais, Dunkirk, and Grande-Synthe, and along the coast.
Calais Appeal was originally formed in 2021 as a collaborative fundraising campaign, when a sudden withdrawal of funding from the region left several member organisations at serious risk. Over the past five years, we have grown together into a coalition working collaboratively across the areas of fundraising and capacity building, safeguarding and welfare, and communications and advocacy.
We work towards common goals and are united in finding shared solutions to the challenges we face, both on a daily level, and from a long-term perspective. Our work is based around principles of solidarity, anti-racism, anti-white saviourism, justice, sustainability, and transparency.
WHAT WE DO
Our Support Projects
Our member organisations provide holistic support for men, women, families, and unaccompanied children and young people in northern France. Our work includes provision of tents, clothing, shoes, sleeping bags, food, water points, hygiene packs, firewood, SIM cards, phone charging, specialised information services, emergency response work, access to play and informal education for children and focussed support for women and families. Together, our projects reached approximately 25,000 people over the course of 2025.
Safeguarding and Welfare
We assist our members in safeguarding and welfare through delivering trainings, writing policies and leading the cross-organisational Safeguarding Network.
Fundraising and Capacity-building
We build the capacity of our members to fundraise, by helping them with grant applications, donor relations, and their overall fundraising strategies.
Communications and Advocacy
We amplify the voices of grassroot organisations to raise awareness about what's really going on in Northern France. Through the media, report writing and campaigns, we're trying to change the public conversation about people on the move.
by @inisca.studio
TOGETHER IN SOLIDARITY
📹 by Sophie de Langloy
Make sure to follow us on social media to stay updated on our activities, the situation at the UK-France border, and how you can stand in solidarity with people on the move.
