A GROUP of Petersfield mothers, along with schools in the town and the surrounding area, are hoping to relieve the desperate plight of refugees near Calais.

Hope Changes Everything is a group founded by a Petersfield mum which aims to help people who are driven by war, hunger and poverty to seek safety in Europe.

It now has more than 300 members, with Herne Junior School and Rake Primary School pupils collecting for people sleeping rough on a farm in France.

The refugees are mainly young women and men from Eritrea, where human rights are ignored, and people live in daily fear of murder, torture, and rape, according to the UN.

Herne headteacher Tony Markham said: “They have felt the desperate need to flee their homes in an attempt to find a better life.”

For some, the shock of the ‘Jungle in Calais’ refugee camps is too much. So, a French farmer has opened a secure field near Calais as a campsite, but it has no facilities except a makeshift kitchen. It is now full, and winter is on its way.

A Hope Changes Everything spokesman said: “The conditions are very basic – it’s full of hungry, cold people.

“Although they are being supplied with the essentials, their plight is desperate, as there are no showers, and they are trying to install loos.

“Rake Primary School has donated huge amounts of food and Herne Junior School is asking for basic items, which we will deliver this month.”

This is the second aid mission for the group after last month they filled a plane with donated goods.

A Petersfield mother, who did not wish to be named, said: “Volunteers including Herne and Petersfield Infant School pupils spent a weekend sorting and boxing up donations.

“We drove the aid to London and it was flown to Samos in Greece to be distributed by the Red Cross and local charities to refugees arriving on the beaches.

“Tents, sleeping bags, blankets, clothing, shoes, toys and baby items and boxes of toiletries were distributed.

“We would like to thank everyone who sent donations. It has been a huge effort from the whole area, involving much generosity, time and effort.”

For more information visit www.redcross.org.uk/ refugeecrisis