Our first Gulab Sorkh update
Welcome to our first Gulab Sorkh Foundation update - Happy New Year and a massive thank you!
On behalf of the team, we would like to wish you all a happy new year and take this opportunity to thank you all for your interest in
the work we are doing. We would especially like to thank all those who have supported our Afghan families both financially and with physical donations. Your generosity has been overwhelming; from buggies and books, to phones and laptops and of course much-needed cash for nappies, toiletries and all sorts of essentials. Behind the scenes, McKinsey and Co has donated time and effort to pull together a coalition of like-minded individuals and organisations to put our efforts on a more enduring footing.
Meeting immediate needs
As you can imagine, these last few months have been fast-paced and changing, from the initial urgent mass-evacuation of Afghans and their families as Kabul fell, to looking after their essential and immediate needs as they arrived here in the United Kingdom and moving forwards as they are housed in permanent accommodation.
While efforts continue to help those who haven’t yet managed to leave Afghanistan, or who have made it to third countries, but as yet no further, those who are here are settling into their new lives in the United Kingdom. We’ve been especially impressed with the efforts of local authorities such as Cardiff County Council in helping newly arrived families to access services such as housing, health and education.
What’s next
As many of the immediate needs of our Afghan families are now being met through support from the Government, local authorities, charities and organisations such as our own, our thoughts are turning to their longer-term needs beyond that which may be provided to any resident of the UK. With this in mind, we are establishing a new charity, the Gulab Sorkh Foundation.
The Foundation will help to make sure that the immediate needs continue to be met as they arise. But that, over time, we can provide a more enduring benefit; ensuring that those who came from Afghanistan are able to access vocational training and post-school education so that they stand the best chances of meeting their potential as productive members of British society.
Why Gulab Sorkh
Gulab sorkh means ‘red rose’ in Pashtun. It is a symbol of friendship in Afghan culture - we hope that friendship will grow stronger and endure.
Our charity objectives;
To support Afghan military veterans who served alongside UK Forces and their families who have been evacuated to the UK as refugees in order to help them have safe and fulfilling lives through the following:
Advancement of their education
Promotion of civic responsibility and good citizenship
Prevention or relief of their needs.
Thank you, this would be impossible without your support
We have been heartened by individuals and businesses getting involved from many communities providing, for example, sporting clothing and spending time with the Afghans and making them feel so welcome.
A big ‘thank you’ to Jon Wear and his team of big-hitters who were able to ‘think big’ from the outset, and drew together a coalition of the willing to look at housing, employment, and a number of other areas. We hope to be able to tell you more about it in future editions. Their good work will endure!
We are also hugely grateful for the support we have received from the Churchill Lines Foundation, the trustees of which have generously enabled us to use their charity for people to donate to while we go through the process of setting up our own. We would also like to extend our particular thanks to:
EE - 144 phones and air time
DAC Beachcroft - 25 phones and 25 laptops
Microsoft - Various software licenses
Crowdfunders - Small and large cash donations
Hereford Recycling Center - Sorting through and organising numerous donations
RE-ACT - Logistics and distribution
Glanusk Estate - Collections of toys and more besides
HQ HErreford Garrison - Transport and distribution