I tore myself away from public sector bids for an afternoon last week, and I am glad I did. I admit I had not read the brief properly beforehand, so I had no real idea what the session involved until I walked into the kitchen and saw the tables covered with T-shirts, washbags and socks. Within minutes, our team had set up a production line: folding, packing and checking each bag against the list. It was a great afternoon and a welcome change of pace from procurement portals and clarification questions.
We partnered with The Separated Child Foundation to prepare 100 arrival packs for young refugees and asylum seekers arriving in the UK without their families. Each pack includes washbags, T-shirts, socks and other essentials, providing practical support, comfort and dignity to children arriving with nothing.
Why We Got Involved
According to Home Office immigration statistics, around 4,000 children arrive alone each year and claim asylum in the UK. Many arrive without access to clean clothes, warm layers or basic amenities, the result of restrictions during their journey and the conditions they endure.
We have supported The Separated Child Foundation for over five years, championing its work to help separated children feel welcome in the UK. The foundation’s aim is to ensure that every separated child in the UK receives the dignified support they deserve, enabling them to rebuild their lives and live fully. This year, our team came together for a hands-on packing session, assembling 100 arrival packs from start to finish.
We see this as part of our wider commitment to social value. Working across the public sector, we know our impact should extend beyond client delivery to the communities our clients serve and the causes our people care about. You can read more about our approach on our sustainability page.
Our Packing Session
Our team spent the session assembling 100 packs, checking each against the foundation’s list to ensure nothing was missed.
An arrival pack may sound like a small thing, but in practice it meets an urgent, basic need. Children arriving in the UK alone often have no dry clothes, no toiletries and no way to keep warm. An arrival pack changes that from the first day.
Each pack begins with a reusable duffle bag, filled with:
- A washbag of basic toiletries and a towel
- Socks and underwear
- Warm clothing, including a tracksuit
- A waterproof jacket, gloves, a hat and a scarf
- A notepad and pen
- Other essential items
It is straightforward work, but it carries weight. Every washbag, T-shirt and pair of socks means one less thing a separated child has to worry about during their first days in an unfamiliar country.
Our Continued Commitment
This project is one of several ways we contribute to the communities connected to our work. We have supported charities and not-for-profit organisations through both hands-on volunteering and technology expertise. Our not-for-profit practice works with organisations to address digital transformation challenges, freeing up time and money to focus on their mission rather than on legacy systems. Our partnership with Marie Curie is one example of what that looks like in practice, and you can read more in our case study here.
We plan to continue supporting The Separated Child Foundation in the years ahead through fundraising, volunteering and awareness-raising. If your organisation is exploring how to build a similar partnership with a charity, or how technology can support a not-for-profit’s mission, our team is happy to share what we have learned.
