Calais may be close to the UK, but figuring out how to dedicate your time to refugees on the French border may seem a little confusing at first. That’s why we’ve created this mini guide on how to volunteer in Calais, and how we at RefYouMe can support you at each step.
The most effective way to support refugees in Calais is to volunteer with a local grassroots charity or NGO. They’ll monitor the situation in Northern France as it evolves and direct their resources to where they’re needed, so you can be sure you’re making the most positive impact possible during your time there.
What’s more, teaming up with an already established charity will be much more convenient. You’ll have the support of fellow volunteers, including experienced team leaders, and safety procedures.
When you volunteer in Calais with RefYouMe, you’ll have the opportunity to support a variety of our partners on the ground in Northern France. These include:
Many of our partners can accept volunteers for as little as a day, whereas some offer long-term placements for those who can offer weeks or months of their time.
If you’d like to volunteer with one of these partners, we’ve outlined the two routes to doing so below.
There are two different ways to volunteer with a charity or NGO in Calais. You can either make arrangements with them directly (a “self-organised" trip) or join a volunteering community like RefYouMe (a “supported” trip).
Here’s the difference between these trip options, plus some considerations for each.
On a supported trip, you’ll book onto a pre-organised RefYouMe trip alongside other volunteers. RefYouMe will then book your transport and accommodation and accompany you to Calais. They will also connect with charities on the ground to arrange your volunteering days.
For an idea of what a supported trip with RefYouMe looks like, check out previous volunteer Tyler’s blog: How I prepared to volunteer in Calais – travel, packing & more.
On a self-organised trip, you’ll be responsible for organising your trip to Calais. This means getting in touch with the charities and NGOs you’d like to volunteer with, organising your own transport, and booking your own accommodation.
When it comes to deciding how to volunteer in Calais, here are some of the key factors to think about.
Skillset
Do you have a particular skillset that you could lend to a charity, such as medical training? Or are you hoping to make cups of tea, sort donations, and handle other less specialist (but still essential!) tasks?
Some organisations in Northern France do require specialist skills, such as FAST and No Border Medics. However, on supported RefYouMe trips, we volunteer with charities that don’t require any specific capabilities, so that everyone can get involved.
Flexibility
Booking onto a supported trip can be a convenient way to volunteer, as you won’t need to handle any logistics yourself. However, our dates are fixed and may not fit your diary.
Alternatively, with a self-organised trip, you won’t need to join a set date. You’ll be in charge, so you can volunteer whenever you have space in your calendar, and for however long you like.
Company
If you’re volunteering alone or in a small group, you may prefer to join a supported trip. You’ll travel and stay with the trip’s organisers and your fellow volunteers, plus have the chance to go for evening meals with them.
However, if you’ve got a larger group of friends, family, or colleagues who want to volunteer together, you might want to organise your own trip. You’ll still get to meet plenty of other people through your chosen charity or NGO, but you’ll travel and stay with your own group.
Whether you choose to volunteer on a supported or self-organised trip, we’re dedicated to providing you with as much guidance as you need. We believe in breaking down the barriers to volunteering, so that everyone can make a difference to the lives of displaced people.
If you're ready to make a difference, take a look at our 2025 dates.
Happy planning!
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.
