A CHILDREN’S fun day and collection of items for the Red Cross refugee support centres will be held at Farnham Leisure Centre on Wednesday, October 21.

The family event has been organised by a group of mums in Farnham behind the ‘Farnham Help for Syrian Refugees in UK and Overseas’ Facebook group.

A list of items needed by the Red Cross will be posted on Facebook in due course, and the group is appealing for helpers to sort and box items on the day as well as children’s entertainers to get in touch via social media.

Hannah Rand, who set up the group with the help of Rev Karen Hutchinson, vicar of of St Thomas-on-the Bourne, and two other mums, Alessia Mestrone and Katie Thomas, said: “We formed the charity drive to raise money and donations for the Syrian refugees who arrived in the UK and those who are in camps in Syrian and on the borders in Lebanon and Turkey.

“Mums and dads can bring their kids for a fun day out [at Farnham Leisure Centre on October 21], as well as drop off donations of clothes and toys.”

Once collected, the items will be delivered to the British Red Cross refugee centre in Portsmouth, where many legitimate refugees arrive in the UK.

Hannah added her group has the support of the Farnham Mummies Facebook page, which has more than 3,000 members, and its efforts have been applauded by many Facebook users as well as South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt and most recently Farnham Humanists.

John de Prey, speaking on behalf of the local humanists group, also backed pressure group 38 Degrees’ petition calling on Waverley Borough Council to find 50 homes for those affected by the crisis in Farnham.

He said: “Over the long-term, the Syrian refugee crisis is an international dilemma which demands an international solution, and European nations have a key role to play.

“Humanist organisations across Europe as represented by the European Humanist Federation (EHF) have called for a ‘strong and humane’ response from European leaders to the worsening Syrian refugee crisis and strongly condemn countries that seek to discriminate on the basis of religion or beliefs.

“In the short-term, all Humanists would expect the British people to offer the alleviation of suffering and fear, the provision of accommodation and support, including schooling, for proven refuges,whether already in Europe or being evacuated directly from Syria.

“The 38 Degrees petition, and indeed all the local initiatives to raise money and donate supplies within the Waverley community reflect the character and culture of our people. Humanists are individually actively participating in these efforts.”

For more information about the fun day and collection, visit the website www.facebook.com and search for ‘Farnham Help for Syrian Refugees in UK and Overseas’.

Alternatively, cash donations to the British Red Cross can be made online at www.redcross.org.uk or by calling 0800 107 8727. To sign 38 Degrees’ petition, visit the website you.38degrees.org.uk/peti

tions/refugees-welcome-in-farnham.