Guardian and Observer charity appeal hits £1m in reader donations | Refugees

An amazing £1m for refugee and asylum seeker charities has been raised by Guardian and Observer readers in less than three weeks.

The 2023 appeal is supporting three charities – Refugee Councils of Britain, Refugees at Home and the No Accommodation Network (Naccom) – that provide frontline help to homeless and destitute refugees and asylum seekers and campaign for a more humane asylum system.

More than 8,500 readers have so far donated to this year’s Guardian and Observer annual appeal. The £1m milestone, which includes estimated gift aid, was reached on Boxing Day. It is the eighth year in succession that at least £1m has been raised by the appeal, which runs through to mid-January.

Enver Solomon, the chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: “It’s amazing that donations to this year’s Guardian and Observer appeal have reached over £1m. We’re extremely grateful to everyone who has contributed and the amount raised so far reflects how the plight of refugees matters to the British public.”

He added: “The incredible generosity will help us continue to provide vital support to those who have to struggle every day to cope with the hostility of a system that causes them so much distress and hardship.”

Online donors to the appeal are able to leave an email message saying why they gave, with many registering their anger and sadness at what they see as the UK government’s hostile and divisive approach to asylum. Others praised our partner charities for the vital work they are doing to prevent refugee homelessness and destitution.

Several donors said their own families’ experiences had compelled them to support the appeal. One said they gave “because my parents were refugees – from Nazi Germany. We owe everything to this country and I feel empathy with today’s refugees”.

Another donor said: “I feel so privileged to have been born in a country where I haven’t had to leave because of economic or social upheaval. Millions of people around the world have to do so and helping them [by giving] is the least we can do.”

Bridget Young, the director of Naccom, said: “It’s heartwarming and motivating to see such incredible generosity from Guardian and Observer readers. The appeal funds will help to strengthen Naccom and our members’ work supporting refugees and people seeking sanctuary.”

Sara Nathan, a founder and trustee of Refugees at Home, said: “What an amazing milestone in the Guardian and Observer Christmas appeal. This support could not come at a more important time as thousands of people who have recently received their refugee status face winter on the streets.”