On 19 August we celebrate World Humanitarian day. Being humanitarian is about improving people’s lives and reducing suffering. This is at the heart of Result CIC’s work.

Result CIC based in the North West of England but works nationally. We regularly see acts of courage and kindness and the immeasurable impact even small acts of this type can have on people’s lives. But does this translate into national policies? Does the UK have a heart?

The way a country treats children with no family must be one of the best ways of testing this. What if you are fleeing a war zone, scared for your life? And, to take an even more extreme situation, what if you are a child with no family left to care for you? Will the UK welcome you?

Last month, July 2017, Hormoz Ahmadzadeh wrote about his own positive experience of arriving as a refugee in the UK as a minor. Many who have made their lives here appreciate the tolerance, support and positive attitude of people in the UK.

It is interesting to ask if a present-day version of Hormoz, aged 15, wished to come to the UK as a lone child refugee, how would he be welcomed?

In 2016 new legislation was put in place by a man who had been a child lone refugee himself. Alf (now Lord) Dubs was one of 699 children whose lives were saved by Sir Nicholas Winton’s Kindertransport Czech programme which supported for children fleeing the Nazis. He introduced an Amendment to the UK Immigration Act, opening a safe and legal route for unaccompanied minors to the UK. MPs debated accepting 3,000 children which some organisations criticsed for being too few.

Earlier this year, 2017, the scheme was closed. Only 200 children had been accepted prior to this – just 6% of the planned number. 280 further places had been found by local authorities, but these places were never filled. Behind each number is a story of a human life and quite possibly a missed opportunity to be humanitarian – to improve that life and reduce the person’s suffering.

Let’s put this into context. We are the sixth richest country in the world. But we also have 9 of the 10 poorest cities in Northern Europe – as well as 1 of the richest (London). We are, ashamedly, a country with one of the highest levels of inequality. We have a rapidly growing underclass of people such as those thousands of human beings sleeping on the streets of our cities and towns. Newcomers would be right to question how well we look after those who, usually through no fault of their own (despite the lazy stereotypes some parts of the media peddle) fault on hard times.

Result CIC recently met the leader of Manchester’s oldest charity, the Gaddum Centre. She described the work they do with young carers. She said they regularly encounter primary school age carers and the youngest they knew was only 4 years old. Not surprisingly, these children’s roles are rarely recognized by the outside world. Who would expect a 4-year old to be supporting an adult, rather than the other way round?

At Result CIC we believe everyone has the capacity to be happier, to develop and thrive. Our programme working with Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit proved what an extraordinary capacity for resilience people have and how the right targeted support can help them sometimes turn their lives round. And we are looking forward to working with a young Creative Experts and coaching them to develop and achieve their goals. We are always interested to talk to new potential partners and individuals who could benefit from what we do. If we can support your organisation’s humanitarian work, at whatever level, get in touch.