Open Hearts Open Borders

We can help with payments towards goods and services or provide essential items to those in need. Helping to rebuild the lives of those who are affected by many different circumstances is an important part of who we are at OHOB. 

We also have a children's storybook and workshop that is available to schools and children's projects across the Southwest.

Our current projects are:

• Resettlement Support Fund - essential practical resettlement support to access goods and services for refugees and asylum seekers
• Household Support Fund - help with essential items, goods and services for families and individuals across Plymouth
• Rafi and Friends - storybook and arts-based workshop for 4 - 11-year-olds
• As a voluntary organisation, we do not have premises, so all requests for support are through agency or charity referrals via email or through an online application.
• Over the past two years, we have proudly received awards from the SME UK Enterprise Awards for our work. In 2020 we were awarded Poverty Action Charity of the Year and in 2021 we received the SME award for Best Refugee Humanitarian Aid Relief Provider.

Additional Information

• As a voluntary organisation, we do not have premises, so all requests for support are through agency or charity referrals via email or through an online application.
• Over the past two years, we have proudly received awards from the SME UK Enterprise Awards for our work. In 2020 we were awarded Poverty Action Charity of the Year and in 2021 we received the SME award for Best Refugee Humanitarian Aid Relief Provider.

Support our work

You can support our work by donating to our various projects via our website and Just Giving pages. 

We are currently fundraising in support of the Afghan Resettlement in Plymouth. Details about the Afghan Resettlement Support Fund can be found on our website

What we do

Refugee Resettlement Support

The Resettlement Support project is designed to help with providing much-needed support for refugees and asylum seekers who are resettled or temporarily housed in Plymouth. We help with providing essential food items, vouchers, or household items to set up a home and begin rebuilding a new life after resettling in the city, or whilst seeking asylum. We provide a small piece of practical comfort to those in need. 

The money we receive via grants and our fundraising helps many refugees and asylum seekers in Plymouth and the surrounding area with necessities such as travel costs, baby items, food vouchers, clothing, fridge freezers, beds, laptops for education, and so much more. The items we provide through the funding we receive can be life-changing and help them to feel welcomed and supported through their journey.

We work in close partnership with other charities and agencies within Plymouth to support refugees and asylum seekers; requests come directly through referrals. Please get in touch via email for any enquiries or requests - info@ohob.org.uk

Household Support Fund

The Household Support Fund is now closed. We are no longer taking applications from families, individuals or partner agencies for this particular fund. If the fund reopens we will publish this via the Plymouth City Council Online Directory or on the OHOB website. 

Rafi and Friends - Education Project and Storybook

Whilst at OHOB, we aim to address the immediate need of others through our aid work and resettlement support, one of our key objectives is to work towards a global culture of kindness, acceptance, understanding and compassion. With this in mind, we distribute to schools and children's projects and/or community groups a storybook and workshop pack based on the story of Rafi a refugee rabbit.

rafi+friends is an educational project for young children aged 4 - 11 years, which includes a series of books about 'Rafi The Refugee Rabbit'. The books tell simple, yet beautiful stories of peace, hope, friendship, and kindness and encourage understanding and a more compassionate world. Together with an art-based workshop, the aim of this project is to connect refugee children with other children through their hopes and dreams.

rafi+friends believe that by educating young people, the next generation, there is hope for peace. Through the education and empowerment of young children, Rafi and his friends want to share their message of hope, peace, and kindness across the world for generations to come.

It is the vision of both OHOB and Rafi to create a world where young people from across the globe are empowered to make positive changes to their own communities. Together with an art-based workshop, we aim to connect refugee children with other children through their hopes and dreams. 

If you are part of a school or community group that works with children aged 4 - 11 years old and would like to receive a storybook and a workshop pack, please get in touch via email at rafi@ohob.org.uk and we will get these sent out to you.

Contact Rafi

• Email - rafi@ohob.org.uk
• Twitter - @rafiandfriends 
• Instagram: @rafiandfriends