I’m Tyler, and I recently volunteered in Calais with my colleague, Tom, via RefYouMe.
I thought it would be helpful to shed some light on my experience, to help future volunteers understand what to expect a little more. In this blog, I’m sharing how I prepared for the trip – from how I planned transport, to what I took with me.
As you’ll see, RefYouMe simplifies the entire process, right from the start!
Registering my interest for the trip took all of five minutes. All I needed to do was head to this page and answer a couple of questions. You can even register your interest for multiple trips at the same time, if you’re thinking about volunteering more than once. I wasn’t locked into anything at this stage; just letting team RefYouMe know that I was interested!
In the weeks leading up to the trip, I got a couple of emails from RefYouMe (and the charities we’d be volunteering with) sharing extra information and outlining some small requirements. These included:
Throughout, the RefYouMe team explained everything clearly and made it known that I could email them with any questions, any time.
When I booked my trip, RefYouMe asked if I’d be willing to drive to Calais. I wasn’t able to that weekend, so I caught a lift with fellow volunteers. Car sharing was perfect, as it meant I got to know the RefYouMe team.
The journey didn’t take too long either. Our convoy left from Bath, and it took around four hours from there to the EuroTunnel Shuttle (with a food and toilet break). We also stopped off to pick up a fellow volunteer on the way, as she was coming from London.
From the Calais crossing, it was only a few minutes to the area we were staying in. We arrived quite late (around midnight), and then it was straight to sleep!
We stayed in a youth hostel close to Calais centre, where I shared a room with one of my fellow volunteers, Liv.
I hadn’t met her before the trip, but it was great to be paired up with someone. It meant that I could share anything I was thinking or feeling, right from the get-go. I could have paid a little extra for a room to myself, but I was happy to share.
The hostel we stayed in was basic but clean and comfortable, with everything we needed for the few days in Calais. I paid for my accommodation by bank card on arrival.
As I’m vegan, I was a little worried that I wouldn’t be able to eat much on the trip – but this wasn’t a problem at all. I told the RefYouMe team my dietary requirements beforehand and they reassured me that I’d be catered for, from morning til evening.
Here’s the kind of thing I had at each mealtime:
Breakfast
I ate breakfast at the hostel. They provided a continental spread with coffee, fruit, baguette, pancakes, and so on – everything you need to fill up before a ay of work!
Lunch
Both Refugee Community Kitchen and Care4Calais provided a vegan-friendly lunch each day, which was great. There was also plenty of tea and coffee to go around.
Dinner
Volunteers are free to do what they want in the evenings, but I chose to spend time with the rest of the team. We went to a restaurant each evening which was a great way to debrief after the day.
The entry requirements for any country can change quite quickly, so I had a look at the Government’s advice before the trip. RefYouMe also helped me understand my responsibilities.
I went to Calais in November, so I packed for colder weather. Volunteers spend a lot of time in warehouses or outside, and it does get cold in winter – so I’m glad I packed plenty of warm clothes.
Here’s a checklist of what I took with me.
Clothes for volunteering
General clothes
Shoes
Toiletries
General
The key thing to remember is that RefYouMe organises the entire trip, and gives you support from the moment you book your place.
If you’d like to ask any further questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team.
If you can spare a weekend and the cost of the trip then we will organise everything else to get you to Calais, so you can see for yourself the importance of direct support and giving and the difference you can make.
All donated funds are directed to the grassroots charities on the ground helping refugees in Calais and used for the most urgent requirements and those most desperately in need. If you would rather purchase an item of need please go to our shop and see exactly where you money goes.
