We left bright and early last Friday morning, encouraged by all your support, yet nervous about what awaited us. On arrival at the Calais camp, we were struck by how strange it was to have just left home, yet feel as if we’d been transported to a totally different world, somewhere further away than the 3 hours it had taken …
Nothing can really prepare you for the reality of the place. All around is the evidence of people doing their best to make their environment more habitable, but we were all stunned to see children living in such conditions and with so little comfort. From the moment we arrived on that hot dusty morning, after passing the French police and entering the camp, we were made to feel welcome and put at ease by the friendliness and warmth from everyone we met.
A lot of time was spent listening; to refugees, volunteers, youth workers and people working for the various organisations running projects that weekend. Hearing the most incredibly sad, desperate and heroic stories as we gradually began to find our way around the camp.

Our football making activity, with teenage boys between 13 and 18 years (most of whom were unaccompanied), was incredible! The boys were warm, polite and friendly. Each one taking the time to shake our hands, grateful that we were there and happy to engage with us, even in a game of catch!

In the two and a half days we were there, we put on four screenings: One for teenage boys and another for a group young men at the Calais Camp; a third for a mixed group of pre-school and primary aged children at the Dunkirk camp; And lastly an outdoor night-time screening for the amazing volunteers at L'Auberge who do such incredible work and who also desperately need some down time.

It’s magical to experience the laughter that comes from an audience that has been through unimaginable trauma and suffering and yet are able to find joy in the simple act of watching a film. And who would have thought that 'Mr Bean’ (that’s what was requested!) would prove so popular to all ages and cultures?

The one question we were asked over and over, again and again was...
"Will you come back?"
we answered
"Yes we will come back! And as soon as we can!"

With your help this first trip was possible!
A total of £700 was spend.
All the art supplies was left behind for the children and young people.
When we learned that there is a desperate shortage of fresh food in the Calais camp, we decided that buying an enormous amount of tomatoes and cucumbers would be a great way of helping. We were able to provide enough to feed 1500 people for one day.

So in short… The fundraising needs to continue and we need your help to spread the word for donations!

Thank you all. You are making a difference!

The Starling Cinema Team