Refugee charity benefits from £1,000 Sigma donation

Worcestershire-based business outsourcing firm Sigma Connected has donated £1,000 to a charity which provides free guidance and advice on immigration, destitution and homelessness across Birmingham and the Black Country.

Redditch-based Sigma, which provides contact centre services across the utilities, retail, telecommunications and financial services sectors, has donated the four-figure sum to The Refugee & Migrant Centre.

The donation gives the charity much-needed access to non-directed funds which can make a difference in the lives of their often destitute clients by providing access to basic essentials that are not otherwise funded, including food, clothing, milk powder and other baby essentials.

The funds have been donated to the Refugee & Migrant Centre through Sigma’s Community Foundation – a foundation through which the company has pledged to donate £12,000 every year to good causes, charities and community projects nominated by employees.

Gary Gilburd, CEO of Sigma Connected, said: “Our Community Foundation is the most effective way to make a difference in the local communities where our employees live and work.

“The Refugee & Migrant Centre does a huge amount of work to support families. They are a brilliant charity for families to lean on when they need support to arrange a roof over their head, securing healthcare, and making sure their children are placed into the education system.

“It is work that often goes unseen by so many people so I hope our donation can go some way to helping as many people as possible.”

Peter Hopgood-Gravett, Director of Compliance, Risk and Audit at Sigma Connected said: “The Refugee and Migrant Centre is a charity which does so much for so many across the region. I really felt this organisation could reflect the amazing diversity we see in Sigma. Having met some of the team, I am genuinely inspired by their work and passion and so pleased to see our donation going to a truly great cause.”

Dr Heather Thomas, Senior Consultant at the charity, added: "I’d like to give a huge thank you to Sigma Connected for its donation. Securing funding for the RMC is a full time job and non-directed donations, such as the one from Sigma, are often harder to find but can be among the most useful. These really make a difference.”

The charity was nominated by Sigma employee Peter Hopgood-Gravett, its Director of Compliance, Risk and Audit.

The Refugee & Migrant Centre offers a wide range of support to people across the West Midlands, including asylum seekers, refugees, EU migrants, undocumented people and those with uncertain immigration status often escaping war.

The RMC provides casework, advice and guidance on immigration, housing/homelessness/destitution, welfare, education and health.

The charity is operated by 110 staff and over 50 volunteers who speak over 45 languages and many of whom were clients and became volunteers or employees having used the service themselves.

They have supported tens of thousands of individuals and families since its creation in 1999. Beneficiaries have come from across 148 different nationalities.

In March 2022 Sigma also donated £15,000 to Red Cross Ukraine Appeal.

Pictured: Steven Bayliss, BBO Manager, Peter Hopgood-Gravett from Sigma Connected, Dr. Heather Thomas, Senior Consultant along with members of Refugees & Migrant Centre team