A group dedicated to improving the plight of the displaced around the world rallied round to raise funds and awareness for those in need, recreating an historic gathering to welcome First World War refugees.

More than 100 residents attended the Merton Welcomes Refugees rally on Wimbledon Common on Friday, June 24.

June 17: Merton Welcomes Refugees: Wimbledon Common rally to be held in memory of Jo Cox MP

The gathering commemorated and continued the precedent set by a rally hosted by the Wimbledon and Merton Refugee Fund in 1914, which was held to help refugees from the war in Europe.

During Friday’s rally, former Labour MP for Battersea South and Battersea Lord Alf Dubs spoke about his own experiences of meeting refugees in Calais and the danger they were in.

Wimbledon Times:

Lord Dubs addressed the crowd

He emphasised the need for Merton Council to actively work to offer safety to children – an estimated 95,000 unaccompanied child refugees in Europe are in need of help and of those 10,000 have already gone missing.

Lord Dubs gained widespread support when he moved an amendment in the House of Lords to the Government’s Immigration Act to allow unaccompanied children safe refuge in the UK.

However, the Government rejected the suggestion to admit at least 3,000 and refused to fix a specific number that could be admitted.

Others speakers at the event included Jackie Schneider, former councillor Peter Walker and Nick Coke from the Salvation Army.

If you would like to offer your help to refugees in Merton contact mertonwelcomesrefugees@gmail.com