A WOKINGHAM resident has been organised an online community intent on helping out refugees, and is now making an extra push to provide aid for refugees coming from Afghanistan to the UK.

The Facebook group 'Gossip Girls in Action - Wokingham for Refugees' has been sending out care packages and clothing items to all kinds of refugees since 2015, sending out the items to Greece, Macedonia, Syria, France and more.

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However since the recent crisis in Afghanistan, the group is looking to also provide aid for the new refugees coming into the country.

The majority of the packages, of which more than 50 have now been issued, have been going to hotels accommodating the Afghan refugees in Manchester, however the organisation is looking to support refugees arriving locally, in Wokingham and Bracknell.

Vickie Robertson, Wokingham resident and admin for the Facebook group, said: "Back in 2014/15, the images of Syrian refugees and Alan Kurdi's body appeared.

"Having children around the same age, I wanted to do something but didn't know how to get involved. Those pictures 'hit-home' with everybody, especially mums, and it made me think 'what can I do?'

Bracknell News:

"Rachel Bradley founded our group, and I joined almost immediately. From there, we went looking at different avenues on how we can help.

"I am part of the government resettlement program in Wokingham, and the original function was to redecorate and furnish the homes. Luckily I got to meet the families and get involved in helping them settle over the past six years."

Ms Robertson explained that a lot of the charities 'on the ground' have said they are overrun by items of clothing, so instead the Facebook group has designed welcome packs, and put together the packs themselves.

These each consist of a drawstring bag, a Pashto and Dari to English dictionary, a pack of cards, adult and children colouring books, crayons, pens, colouring pencils, a sharpener, writing paper, a diary and a hand-woven blanket.

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Ms Robertson added: "I'd like to say thank you to everyone who has supported us over the six years. It's been a horrendous 18 months for everybody, from physical health to mental health, and it has shown us more than ever that we need to be there to help each other.

"In Afghanistan the scenes are shocking for anyone to see, let alone survive, and we can all do something - being inclusive, speaking to our local MPs, sending in views to the council, or donating funds or clothes. There's always an avenue to get involved in.

"It's just a matter of geography, and of luck of where you were born. I certainly think the world is big enough for all of us, and we can all certainly accommodate a few families each.

For more information, or to donate, visit facebook.com/groups/1634385936810324.