This week sees the launch of Refugee Week in the UK.

To mark Refugee Week 2008, the British Red Cross is launching a UK-wide social networking campaign supported by actor Dougray Scott. The campaign will give young refugees and asylum seekers a platform to tell their story through video diaries, which will be showcased through sites such as Facebook, Bebo and YouTube, as well as the British Red Cross website  http://www.redcross.org.uk/refugeeweek.

In 2006, 3,245 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children aged 17 or under claimed asylum in the UK, with the majority of them coming from Afghanistan (30%), Iran (10%), Eritrea (10%) and Somalia (8%). Reasons included the death of their parents, detention and torture, forced recruitment as child soldiers, persecution due to ethnic group, or the political activities of their family.

The Red Cross supports refugees and unaccompanied asylum seeking children to adjust to life in a new country, make friends and access essential services such as health care and education. The Red Cross can even put young people back in touch with lost family members through the international tracing and messaging service.

Charles (17), originally from Cameroon, sought refuge in the UK just over a year ago. He said: “My mum and dad were both killed because of their involvement in politics. I went to live with my uncle, but our lawyer told me it was no longer safe to stay”. Alone in Manchester, he found out about a Red Cross peer education project, which helped him make friends and provided training in peer befriending and first aid. Charles now teaches first aid to other young people and is studying law at City College Manchester.

British Red Cross staff and volunteers throughout the UK will be taking part in Refugee Week by holding events and activities, from comedy nights to workshops in schools. Visit www.redcross.org.uk/refugeeweek for more information.

Nick Scott-Flynn, head of British Red Cross refugee services, said: “The Red Cross Movement protects people fleeing conflict throughout the world and that includes those who arrive in the UK. Refugees make an enormous contribution to the UK, socially, culturally and economically, and Refugee Week is a chance to celebrate that fact."

For further information visit  http://www.redcross.org.uk/refugeeweek

Or visit us on social networking sites:

Youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/BritishRedCross
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Refuge...ss/16030433910
Bebo:  http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=3753902658