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BBC News
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Hertfordshire music festival funds farm housing refugees
A farm that houses refugee families has said a music festival it hosts on site is essential to its is a guitar-based alternative music festival run by the group Catholic Worker Farm on Lynsters Farm in Rickmansworth, Albrecht lives on the site with his wife, a team of volunteers and 18 women and children, who are homeless or asylum seekers."I think it's hugely important and it's not just looking at this year, it's looking at the future. We want it to become bigger," he said. While living at the farm, the women receive English lessons, therapy and assistance with solicitors to help them put asylum claims into the Home 2006 about 750 women and children, including Ukrainian refugees and women who were previously homeless, have stayed on the farm is funded by donations, grants and proceeds from the festival, which has taken place since Albrecht said: "All the money that comes in is is dedicated to paying off our bills, essentially."He explained the group claimed no government funding or benefits and required about £70,000 each year to run. 'Can't do Glastonbury' Last year the festival raised £12,500 but organisers have aspirations to raise more Albrecht said: "Obviously we can't do Glastonbury here, but we can certainly handle about 300 or 400 people."Right now, currently we've got about 200 coming. If we can double that, then the money from the festival could come in at around £25,000 and that could be a third of our income."The event, which will take place between 22 and 25 August, is curated by Mr Albrecht's son year the lineup includes Hertfordshire-based metal act PEST and other acts such as Unlucky, Millie Turner, The Slow Country and English Garden. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
23-06-2025
- BBC News
Man charged with murder of woman after gas blast
Police were called at 04:57 to reports of a gas explosion with a person trapped inside the property. Six fire engines and 40 firefighters were also called to the scene. The front bay window of the property was completely blown out, with debris including plants, wooden shutters and glass scattered across the street. The family of Ms Rook, who worked for a social enterprise she co-founded called Mama Suze CIC, which supports refugee and migrant women, is being supported by specialist officers, the Metropolitan Police said. In a statement on Sunday, issued though the police, her family said they were "struggling to come to terms with this terrible tragedy. "Annabel was a truly wonderful woman. She touched the hearts of so many. "She gave her life to helping the vulnerable and the disadvantaged, whether it was in refugee camps in Africa or setting up MamaSuze in London, to enhance the lives of survivors of forced displacement and gender-based violence."
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Brighton young refugee organisation issues urgent plea for help
An organisation which supports young refugees in East Sussex has issued an urgent appeal for in Brighton and Hove cares for about 300 young refugees each year, but said it was facing a funding said several of its grants had ended at the same time that it was waiting to hear if applications for replacement funds had been organisation runs social activities and even provides an in-house clinical psychologist. Costs run from £50 a week to hire a room for a youth group up to £1,800 a month to rent accommodation for a refugee."Over the last 18 months, acquiring funding for our services has been exceptionally difficult," said founder and director Elaine Ortiz. "There is now huge competition for small organisations like ours and we are not always able to keep up with much larger, better resourced organisations."Hummingbird's appeal has a target of £34,000.
