In December 2022, the High Court ruled that the Government’s Rwanda plan is lawful. Care4Calais is now seeking permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal and we need your help.

Why are we doing this?

We continue to believe that refugees will not be safe in Rwanda and that the UK government insufficiently enquired into whether Rwanda will uphold refugees’ rights. This proposal risks the UK’s reputation as a safe haven where people fleeing conflict and persecution can live in peace and stability.

Last year, we worked closely with 130 of the people who were given notices from the Home Office stating that they may be considered for removal to Rwanda; we witnessed first-hand the extreme trauma that the potential removal caused to both the refugees and their families. We felt their pain and fear and stood by them through suicide attempts and self-harm. This plan is brutal and we are committed to opposing it.

It is also a waste of taxpayers’ money. It will do nothing to deter people from crossing the Channel. Since it was announced, Channel crossings have hit an all-time high. While the Government wastes time with ineffective policies that don’t work, more lives are being lost in the Channel.

Why us?

The case is being appealed by certain individuals who are affected by it, but it is important that the interests of the many thousands of other refugees who will be affected by this policy are also represented.

Care4Calais supports refugees who simply want to exercise their right to claim asylum in the UK. These are the people most often vilified by this Government’s anti-refugee policies. Evidence shows that 98% of these people claim asylum on arrival in the UK, and approximately 70-80% of them are granted it. They tell us their stories of escaping the worst horrors in the world and making incredibly brave journeys to arrive here. We know they have lost friends and relatives in conflicts and on the journey, and suffered persecution and torture at home. To us it is cruel and callous in the extreme to consider that the UK might put our brave and resilient friends through the further trauma of another removal.

When they arrive in the UK, we help them with donated aid, access to legal and medical services and guidance through their daily lives in the UK. We work in 147 hotels across England and Wales supporting over 8,000 asylum seekers who are housed by the Government. We have a group of over 5,000 volunteers and we are supported by over 100,000 public supporters and donors. The vast majority of volunteers and supporters are British citizens who care about how refugees are treated by our Government and who give up their time and their money to support them and to stand up for their rights. Many hundreds of our volunteers host refugees in their homes.

Why now?

The Court of Appeal has not yet heard the case, and we will have the opportunity to present our arguments and evidence to senior judges. We believe this is a critical opportunity to ensure that this shameful policy is examined with the depth and rigour that is required. Given the enormous impact it will have on thousands of peoples’ lives, this examination is essential.

Why are donations needed?

We are raising funds for our own legal costs, and to protect us from paying the Home Office’s legal fees if we lose at any stage before the Court of Appeal. Funds raised for the initial court case heard by the Divisional Court have now been used. Any unused funds will be allocated according to Crowd Justice’s Unused Funds policy.