Hackney Cypriot Association

As Christmas was approaching we decided we wanted to do something a little extra to help the children in the refugee camps around Thessaloniki, Northern Greece. We wanted to send shoeboxes to as many children as possible, each one containing some essentials and a gift. There are estimated 27,000 children in the camps we work with through our volunteer Maria. 

We sent 267 shoe boxes to Thessaloniki! We were touched by everyone’s generosity. Boxes were packed with such thought and care, with colourful wrappings, and many with personal messages of good wishes. Each box contained a toy, arts & craft materials, toiletry items, sweets and warm clothes. 

Due to customs, all boxes had to be inspected before being sent. We labelled them all according to age-group and, where appropriate, boy or girl, and sent them via the Cypriot freight company Mondial, who have been incredible in assisting us.

“Through our volunteers, who are very well placed to distribute. All shoe boxes were greatly received by the children”

Hettie Colquehoun

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A huge thanks to the children and parents of Springfield School, Clapton Girls School and Holmleigh School who sourced and packed most of the shoe boxes.

More thanks to Freya, Susan and Clare at New Unity Church, and Billo and Casino, in Dalston, who supplied us with empty shoe boxes.

Thanks to the stallholder in Ridley Road who, unsolicited, donated a sackful of warm hats.

Thanks to Mondial, who helped us ship the shoeboxes to Greece.

Thank you to all that came to our Songs for Refugees event and to all that support us in raising funds for the refugees in Thessaloniki, Greece. We raised over £1,200 on the night!

These funds have been spent on many items including baby foods, nappies and milk powder. These supplies will also be accompanied by a large amount of winter clothing for men, women, babies and children which has been kindly donated by people and groups from Hackney.

The donations and supplies will be leaving London at the beginning of the week and should be with them by the weekend.

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The conflict is not over and our work to support them will continue. To donate please visit our charity giving page. 

Thanks for your continued support.

Unitarian Church, 39a Newington Green, N16 9PR
Advance Tickets: £10 
Friday 21st October
Start: 7pm

The Hackney Cypriot Association and singer Sarah Warren invite you to An Evening of Classical Song and Musical Theatre

This is going to be (possibly) the best performance of the year! The incredible Sarah Warren –  who is wavering her fee so all the proceeds can go directly into helping the Refugees in Greece – will be performing with the amazing Stefano Marzanni. 

Expect an enthralling night of singing and music.

The Music

Sarah Warren, Singer

Sarah graduated from the BRIT school as an actor, has an ATCL Dip. in Musical Theatre and has studied Voice for over 10 years.

She has sung with the BBC Choir, St Paul’s Cathedral Diocesan Choir and performed as a soloist in concerts at The Old Church and St Mary’s Stoke Newington, Alexandra Palace and the Crouch End Music Festival.

Sarah  played the lead, Mary, in a new musical ORANGES & ELEPHANTS directed by Susie McKenna of the Hackney Empire and in conjuction with the National Theatre at the Soho Theatre in BLACKOUT by Davey Anderson.

Stefano Marzanni, Piano

Stefano was born in Brescia, Italy and has performed regularly across Europe. He received his Master in piano performance from the Royal College of Music, studying under Dina Parakhina. His studies were generously supported by a Kenneth and Violet Scott Award and the Pidem Foundation Award. As a classical pianist, Stefano has performed at numerous venues and festivals including Sala Verdi and Sala Puccini in the Conservatorio di Milano and has attended masterclasses with internationally renowned musicians such as Leonid Margarius, Filippo Gamba and Natalia Trull.

Stefano performs regularly as a pop and jazz pianist, and began his jazz studies with Roberto Soggetti in 2007. Most recently Stefano attended the Loire Music Jazz Master led by Professor Barry Green of Guildhall School of Music and Drama

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More information and donations

Alongside entry, your £10 ticket will give you a glass of wine and a ticket for our Raffle where we have three fabulous prizes up for grabs.  

All proceeds to Hackney Cypriot Association Refugee Appeal

To purchase a ticket or make a donation head to our charity giving page.

“Idomeni is over. But nothing is over for the refugees” David Lohmueller

When European borders began to close at the end of 2015, Idomeni in Greece, became the largest makeshift refugee camp in Europe. 8,500 refugees, mainly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, spent the winter there in extreme conditions.

Thanks to the generosity of the residents of Hackney, the Hackney Cypriot Association were able to support refugees at the Idomeni camp all through last winter by sending warm clothing and other items.

In May, the camp was disbanded by the authorities and occupants were relocated to specified sites around Thessaloniki, many in tents set up inside disused warehouses.

There are an estimated 57,000 refugees and migrants stranded in Greece, hoping to be settled in other countries, nearly half of these are children. 

Volunteers at the camps tell us that most will spend another winter in Greece. 

Our help is once again requested at one ‘hotspot’ near Thessaloniki before the winter weather bites. With temperatures in Greece reaching possibly between -1°C to 4°C.

We are therefore asking for your help and support once more. From September onwards, we will be collecting, sorting and dispatching:

Clothes for Men, Women,  Children and Babies
Hats, Scarfs and Gloves for all
Shoes for all
Bed linen and Blankets
Towels
Toiletries

Thank you for your time and help, Hackney Cypriot Association