Refugees deliver food to homeless people in Southport after group donates basic necessities

A kind group of people called into a Southport hotel with hot meals for the refugees staying there.

They were then moved to then see the refugees take food out to give to homeless people on the town’s streets. 

The friends were all members of the new Southport Against Racism Facebook group, which formed in June with the motto of “making a difference”. 

They wanted to help out after hearing how around 150 asylum seekers had been given temporary refuge at a hotel in Southport town centre, since April, at the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic.  

Nadia Speers-Robinson from Southport Against Racism said: “Just over two weeks ago we were made aware of a situation regarding the condition of the food.

“We made direct contact with a gentleman being housed at the hotel. Through him we were able to receive information about the treatment and needs of the people staying there.

“It was so shocking to hear grown adults asking for things as basic as socks, or underwear.

“The women were asking for nappies and baby food for the children.

“Not a single person asked for money, or cigarettes, just basic items that everybody should be entitled to. 

“When I notified other charities and organisations of the plight of the people being housed in the hotel, they sprang into action.” 

There was a lot to do. Families at The Scarisbrick Hotel had travelled thousands of miles, from countries such as Iran, Iraq, Syria, Eritrea, Ghana, Pakistan and Afghanistan, before they were given temporary accommodation in Southport. Many of them fled as the result of war or other traumatic circumstances, and arrived with very few of the things they need. 

Southport Against Racism provided meals and other goods for refugees staying at a hotel in Southport

Nadia said: “In the last week the people have been provided with four hot meals, suitable winter clothing and shoes that are fit to be worn, and toiletries.

“The children have received suitable food, powdered milk, toys, books, shoes and clothing, things they have not been able to enjoy in the five months they had previously been housed there.

“We are appealing to Serco, which has the contract to house them, to allow us to provide mini fridges and microwaves to the mothers so they can store fresh milk for the children, and heat up food. At present they cannot use the facilities in the hotel kitchen, and one child in particular has lost a significant amount of weight during his stay there. 

“With the first set of meals we provided on Friday, there were a few extra portions. As everyone staying at the hotel had taken their allocated share, the gentleman I am in contact with took it upon himself to distribute the remaining portions amongst the homeless people of Southport, as he wanted to share it with those who also have nothing.” 

Southport Against Racism was formed by Katrina Khan in June, and has already attracted over 700 members. 

She said: “I could not have felt prouder of how the people of Southport have come together over the past month.

“We as an admin team for Southport Against Racism set out to make a difference and we delivered on that!

“Nadia Spears Robinson has led a fantastic project and the kind-hearted people of Southport could not wait to help.

“I cannot imagine being in a refugee’s shoes, choosing to take my children in a dingy over rough seas because what was behind me was worse than the waves of the choppy sea in front. Then to arrive to safety and be met with hostility must be heartbreaking.” 

Since the refugees arrived in Southport there have been times when protestors have stood outside the hotel windows, holding banners and calling for the refugees to be deported. 

Katrina said: “There are some misinformed, prejudiced people who often stand near the hotel shouting through speakers that refugees are not welcome here.

“I cannot imagine how the loud echoes of their cruel rhetoric make the families feel.

“We wanted to show refugees that we have compassion and will stand by them because we are a caring community.” 

The Southport Against Racism group has many more things it wants to do in the town. Its members want to help people, they want to alter perceptions and they want to make change happen. 

Katrina said: “Our group has a goal to make Southport an anti-racist town. It is not an unreasonable goal considering we just want people to not discriminate against people because of the colour of their skin. 

“I was so pleased to see the group grow as it has. To have members from all walks of life want to sign up to our pledge is refreshing, having experienced my own son suffer from racism here in Southport.

“We understand how people can build up bias and believe education is the key to rectify this. “We therefore use the group to share information and direct to educational resources.

“Another function of the group is to share events and indeed create events which we intend to do once safe.

“Our main aim is to let people who have been affected by racism know that we hear them and will support them.”

Last month (September 12) the group organised a small, socially distanced rally in Southport town centre, which was organised by group admin Laura Lunn-Bates. 

Laura said: “Groups across Merseyside came together to send a message to the racists that they aren’t welcome here. Leaflets were handed out to dispel myths about refugees.

“This included a socially distanced rally I organised and the direct action of Merseyside Anti Fascist Network. MAFN has done similar action helping refugees with donations across Merseyside.

“It was so great to see Nadia take up the lead from our group, organising donations from across the country.”

• For more details about the work of Southport Against Racism please Like their page on Facebook. 

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