Refugee Routes
On the 4th of August, we launched our fundraising endeavour for the Bike Project’s ‘Refugee Routes’ in collaboration with our corporate partners, Mecanoo and Deloitte.
Collectively, we will be raising £3000 and travel 1,996 miles, the same distance from Mariupol to London. This journey represents one many refugees have had to take since Russia invaded Ukraine earlier this year. Displaced from their homes, refugees hope to find sanctuary in the UK.
On the 15th of August, members of the Hadley team, alongside Mecanoo and Deloitte, cycled from our London Bridge office to our site in Stratford as part of our fundraising efforts.
Despite 100,000 people in the UK signing up to become hosts for refugees, the visa application process is shrouded in confusion and ambiguity. Many had no insight as to when they could arrive in the country, left fearfully waiting at borders. Whilst some have been able to reach the UK, they still face the long-term uncertainty of a place to stay, a complex legal system, mental health struggles from war and conflict, financial barriers and isolation from their community.
This is where the Bike Project comes in with their fundraising project, Refugee Routes. Their mission is to not only get a bike in people’s hands but make cycling accessible and create communities for refugees along the way. Every £100 buys a refugee a bike, whilst funds also go towards cycling lessons, community programmes and befriending programmes.
The provision of a bike and the confidence to cycle can make such a difference to a refugee’s life. Access to vital services such as healthcare and legal aid is essential for a refugee arriving in this country. However, asylum seekers receive just £39 a week, meaning they may be forced to decide between food and public transport.
If you would like to make a donation to our fundraising campaign, please follow this link.
