An unprecedented humanitarian crisis has unfolded in Afghanistan and in the aftermath of hurried evacuations, tens of thousands of Afghan families face a new life, forced to leave with nothing but the clothes on their back.

After being approached by a Wellingtonian family with a charitable relationship with the UK Special Forces, the Wellington College Community came together to donate, volunteer and create care packages providing clothing and starter kits full of everyday essentials.

Over the last seven days, the Wellington Community filled the Robin Dyer Sports Hall with a variety of items including clothes, food, electrical equipment and bedding to be placed into Welcome Care Packages.

Our staff, parents and pupils joined forces to create a staggering 1250 packages, which have now been distributed to Afghan refugees starting their new lives in the UK. This means almost a quarter of the 5,000 Afghan refugee families now in the UK have received help from Wellington College, itself a school originally founded to care for those affected by war.

James Dahl, Master, said:

Through the Afghan Allies Appeal, Wellington College is trying to do its utmost to help those most in need. An important part of a Wellington College education is a commitment to service and helping others. Over the last seven days, this has been exemplified by the number of donations received and the volunteers that have worked tirelessly to help the Afghan families who have arrived in the UK and who have lost so much. At Wellington, we try to ensure our young people are learning wherever possible that they should serve and help shape a better world.