Arts institute boost to Afghan refugee appeal

The University of Cumbria is supporting some of the Afghan refugees who are to settle in the UK following the country's takeover by the Taliban. 

Assisting efforts to meet the basic needs of the refugees, the University of Cumbria has donated clothing from its Institute of Arts wardrobe stores to the Carlisle Refugee Action Group (CRAG).

Many items are brand new and others hardly worn. They are among the existing collection created for student stage productions by university costume and textile senior technicians Sharon Reynolds and Nicola Wilding.

Ten items of each of the following have been given to CRAG – formal trousers, shirts, ties, jeans, hoodies and t-shirts.

Sharon said: “With a continued need for more men’s clothing, we’ve considered carefully the items to include options for a more formal occasion like an interview and other everyday items like jeans and sweatshirts for comfort and daily activities.”

CRAG representative Adrienne Gill recently visited Sharon and the Brampton Road campus in Carlisle, home to the university’s Institute of Arts.

Adrienne said: “On behalf of the refugees who will be receiving these items of clothing I want to express our gratitude to the University of Cumbria for the generous donation.”

The Brampton Road team, supported by arts institute business development manager Karen Jones, are now considering how they can further support refugees settling in Cumbria.

IMAGES

(l-r) Adrienne Gill, from Carlisle Refugee Action Group, with Sharon Reynolds, from University of Cumbria's Institute of Arts, in the textile workshops at Brampton Road campus, Carlisle