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Humanitarian aid, advocacy and community-building to support people who are refugees and asylum seekers

Your donation is about more than just distribution. It funds our pioneering and inclusive approach to aid delivery.

Where your donation goes

Understanding the need

The first step in our distribution process is needs assessment. As humanitarian situations evolve, so too do the needs of communities. At Refugee Biriyani & Bananas, it is those with lived experience of the acute crisis that decide what needs are greatest and where we invest our resources.

Funding our expert teams

Once we’ve established the primary needs, our local teams get to work. Volunteers and community leaders from the populations we serve come together with our specialised aid team to mobilise resources for upcoming distributions.

Getting aid where its needed

A key part of the distribution process is sourcing aid, storing it, and transporting it to where it’s needed most. This involves a lot of driving, a lot of packing, and a lot of time and pairs of hands.

Distributing to the community

Once all is ready, we begin our distributions. These involve liaising with local authorities and working in partnership with other organisations. Over years, we’ve developed fair and inclusive ways to manage distributions, even when providing aid to thousands of people.

Providing social support

Our work doesn’t stop with clothes, food or hygiene items. Our teams stay in touch with the communities we help. From extra-curricular activities, relationship-building, referrals or simple cups of tea and smiles, we are often the first point of contact for someone to access further services and support.

A note from our CEO

Dear friend,

For the past 8 years, we have been working on the frontlines of humanitarian crises across the world. We have and continue to witness the suffering of displaced communities who are not afforded the most basic support and dignities to which we all have a fundamental right.

Together with my team, we have continuously sought to fill the most urgent gaps and provide care and love to those at the margins of society. We have done this together overwhelming with people like you: individuals who have come and supported our missions with donations however small. Every pounds, euro or dollar you’re able to donate goes towards changing someone’s life.

Today, as we continue on our mission, I invite you to join our family by making whatever contribution you can towards our urgent humanitarian aid distributions.

Thank you, on behalf of us all.

Ruhi Akhtar
CEO

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Donation FAQs

Where does my donation go?

When you donate to RBB, you support our humanitarian aid distributions. Our primarily ongoing work takes place in Greece and Gaza, but we also respond to emergencies as they arise, such as in Ukraine and Calais, France.

Your donation helps fund the entire aid cycle, from needs assessment, team support, aid purchasing, transport, warehousing and distribution. Usually, around 15% of your donation will fund costs associated with the whole aid cycle, with 85% going directly on aid, however this can vary over time and depending on the local contenxt.

Our teams also provide psychosocial activities and one-to-one support for individuals. If you’d like to find out more about your donation, email us at [email protected].

Is my donation eligible for Gift Aid?

Your donation is eligible for Gift Aid if you’re a UK taxpayer. Simply select Gift Aid when you make your donation and we’ll be able to claim an additional 25p on every £1 you donate. This is a fantastic way of boosting your donation and increasing you impact.

Should I make a one-off or monthly donation?

We are extremely grateful for any contribution you can make. If you’re able, we always encourage donors to set up a monthly donation over a one-time donation. A smaller, continuing donation makes a much bigger difference to our charity, helping us to build sustainability and plan better for the future. With a monthly gift, you also become a long-term member of the RBB family and our relationship together can grow. If you’d like to discuss the best way to donate, reach out to us at [email protected].

What updates will I receive?

When you donate, we’ll firstly send you a confirmation of your donation. We also send occasional newsletter (usually once every 1-2 months). These are a great way of staying up-to-date with the situation on the ground and the organisation’s developments. If you’d like more regular updates, we recommend you also follow us on our social media accounts, where we post regular situation updates and photos. If there’s something in particular that you’d like to know, just send us a message at [email protected].

How else can I help?

Donations help power Refugee Biriyani and Bananas, but that’s just the start! There are many ways to support displaced communities we serve. If you’d like to go a step further, please consider:

  1. Share your donation and encourage your network to follow your lead
  2. Consider joining us in Greece as a volunteer
  3. Share our advocacy messages and situation updates on social media
  4. Volunteer remotely, as a Trustee or skilled volunteer