Celebs join volunteers to help 'make a difference' for refugees and asylum seekers

Volunteers get to work

Actor Cyril Nri, Superintendent Adam Okaro from the popular TV series The Bill and and BBC Radio 2's Reverend Canon Roger Royle joined fifty volunteers for 'Integration through Decoration' on Saturday, 29 October, and helped redecorate the Refugee Council's One Stop Service in Brixton. Organised as part of the Year of the Volunteer and CSV Make a Difference Day, the day brought asylum seekers, refugees and local people to work together for a common cause.

Roger Royle enjoys the day

The volunteers painted and decorated the facilities used by refugees and asylum seekers in the Refugee Council Brixton office and helping to sort out donated clothes. Chris Badman, the Refugee Council's Volunteer Development Co-ordinator added "The response to this event was fantastic, with approximately 50 people volunteering to help, many of whom worked much later then planned to get things finished. It brought members of the public, asylum seekers and refugees together in a common volunteering cause and made our offices much nicer for all of the clients who attended."

Cyril Nri takes on a new role

Cyril Nri said : "As a former refugee myself, I am very aware of the difficulties people face when they arrive in this country, such as language problems, isolation and prejudice. All of these are helped through volunteering, because when you volunteer alongside someone, you get to know them a little bit, which helps to break down barriers. And together we'll aim to provide newcomers to this country with a bright and welcoming environment!"