Urgent appeal launched to help Syrian earthquake survivors

Help Us Raise £25,000 to Support Ongoing Recovery Efforts  One year ago, a series of […]

The Asfari Foundation – Transforming Lives Through Partnership

We are so proud to have the support of The Asfari Foundation, and were honoured […]

George’s Trip to Lebanon

“Where does the money go?” A question we are asked regularly, and rightly so. Ten […]

Rana’s Story

49% of girls (11yrs +) are involved in child labour, and 83% of children (11yrs […]

“Hardest to reach, most at risk”

“Hardest to reach, most at risk” These words describe the tens of thousands of women […]

Singing for Syrians

🎵 Let’s sing for Syrians 🎵  🎄 Be part of our festive fundraiser this Christmas […]

Singing for Syrians – It’s Back!

SINGING FOR SYRIANSCANDLELIT CAROLS 28th November 2023 St Bartholomew the Great, London Although it may […]

We’re Hiring! Office Assistant

We are looking for an Office Assistant, full time, fixed term to end Feb 2024 […]

Ahmed’s Story

One year ago, Ahmed lost his right arm in an explosion of war remnants. His […]

Hisham’s Story

Although Lebanon did not experience any destruction as a result of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake […]

Syrian Earthquake response – six months on

Almost six months have passed since the first earthquake struck the Turkish Syrian border on […]

Prosthetics Trip to Gaziantep

Flying in, it looks like any other city. A sprawl of lights, emanating from houses […]

Mohammed’s Story

Feelings of suffocation, shortness of breath, and coughing were all normal to 15-year old Mohammed. […]

We’re hiring an Operations & Finance Executive

The role will include managing our Financial Processes (management accounts, income and expenditure, budgeting and reforecasting) and our Donor Management system (Donorfy), while supporting the CEO with Legal & Governance.

A chat with Grand Junction ahead of comedy fundraising night

Hear from Grand Junction ahead of the legendary Arabs Are Not Funny comedy night on 25 May to raise money for Hands Up.

We’re hiring a Fundraising Campaign Manager

Hands Up are looking for an enthusiastic, pro-active Fundraising Campaign Manager to join our small […]

Syrian Kitchen Club

We know you’ve missed it…  So due to popular demand the Syrian Kitchen Club is […]

Hassan’s Story

One day, while Hassan was at his mosque in Tel Rifaat, Syria, he was wounded […]

Two Months On

Two months have now passed since the first earthquake struck the Turkish Syrian border, but […]

Syrian Supper Club

Thursday’s Syrian Supper Club was such a huge success, with the most delicious food from […]

Our hero, Hector, raises money for Syrian earthquake appeal

Hector has been fundraising for Hands Up for years, and has just helped his school […]

Comedy fundraiser for Syrian communities affected by earthquakes

Ten of the UK’s leading Arab comedians are taking to stage to raise money for […]

Mother’s Day

Many of you will have read about Aya1, the baby pulled from the rubble still […]

Nour’s Story

The earthquake which struck Syria and Turkey on the 6th February took the lives of […]

Tips for fundraising in aid of us

Fundraising for Hands Up? Here’s some things you need to know.   Thank you so […]

An Update From Our Partners

Hearing the stories of our partners on the ground has been heart-breaking. But I have […]

International Women’s Day

Equality is not just an ideal. It’s not just something we can sit around and […]

Turkey-Syria Earthquake: Why is the situation so bad in Syria?

Over eleven years of conflict has shaken Syria’s foundations to the point of humanitarian catastrophe. […]

Hand’s Up Chairman visits earthquake-torn Turkey

Hands Up Chairman, George Bulter, has returned from Antakya, Turkey, where he has been supporting […]

One Week On – Earthquake Emergency Appeal

A week on from the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Syrian Turkish border, more than […]

Hands Up appeal to help Turkish Syrian Earthquake victims

At the end of the week that a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the Turkish […]

Shady’s Story

Most people can relate to the feeling of frustration that comes when you can’t fully […]

EMERGENCY EARTHQUAKE APPEAL, SYRIA

At 4:17am this morning, as people lay sleeping, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck south east […]

Hands Up Foundation celebrates International Day of Education

Education is a human right, and the foundation for re-building strong and resilient communities.  But […]

Fatima’s Story

Fatima was not able to sleep at night because of, what she described as, a […]

Run for Syria in 2023

Hands Up Foundation have signed up to Run for Charity, meaning you can take part […]

Introducing our new ambassadors: Ayman Alhussein, Iain Burnside, Lindsey Hilsum, Hector McCulloch, and Romilly Weeks

We are delighted that the following brilliant and inspiring people have joined Hands Up as […]

Omar’s Story

“I want my people to live in peace and feel the stability again. But to […]

International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD)

Today, Sunday 03 December, marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). While we […]

Double your donation with match funding

This week only (1 – 8 December 2022), your donations to Hands Up’s Singing for […]

Don’t donate this #GivingTuesday

This Giving Tuesday, we’re asking you to hold off on making donations…for a few days.   […]

Help Syrians while you shop this Black Friday

With everyone feeling the pinch this year, many of us will be using the Black […]

World Children’s Day

20th November, 2022 Since 1954, the 20th November has marked UNICEF’s World Children’s Day. It […]

Singing for Syrians returns for a star-studded evening of song

The annual Singing for Syrians campaign is back, and this year it’s bigger and brighter […]

Cholera outbreak continues to spread across Syria

Tragically, since our last blogpost, Cholera has continued to spread across Syria. Since August, the […]

50 hands provided by Hands Up

On Tuesday, after a long journey from London, 50 Koalaa prosthetics arrived in Syria. Although […]

Cholera outbreak in Syria

Cholera. Easily preventable, yet potentially life-threatening. Devastatingly, this is the reality that many in Syria […]

Shining a spotlight on children’s healthcare in Syria this Child Health Day

The Syrian conflict has had a devastating impact on the availability of healthcare for people […]

Early bird tickets on sale for our Singing for Syrians Carol Concert

Tickets have gone on sale for our Signing for Syrians Carol Concert, which raises money […]

Health Clinic team helping Syrians access essential healthcare

Since the start of the conflict in Syria, 70% of medical staff have left the […]

This International Day of Peace, our CEO, Rose Essam, reflects on the Syrian conflict and the role we can play in supporting those impacted

It has been more than eleven years since Syria’s conflict started.   Eleven years of deadly […]

Singing for Syrians Carol Concert is back!

Our special Signing for Syrians Carol Concert, which raises money for Syria’s most vulnerable, is […]

Syria Still Matters

As the Syrian conflict enters its 12th year, it matters more than ever to remember […]

Hands Up is helping Syrian students head “back to school”

As pupils and students across the UK get ready to head back to school, so […]

Meet the Refugee Women making Sustainable Period Pads to fight the Rising Costs in Lebanon

Recently in Lebanon, the situation of Syrian refugees has become steadily worse due to the […]

Feras Al-Ghadban: The Syrian doctor who founded a medical organisation in Lebanon

This month, I would like to talk about another success story of Syrians in Lebanon. […]

What is the Hands Up Foundation?

Hands Up is an innovative charity that funds health and education programmes in Syria and […]

Meet 11-year-old Ramadan

Ramadan is a student at Sawa school in the Bekaa Valley. Alongside 300 other Syrian […]

Thousands of Syrian children in Lebanon dream of a real education

The education system in Lebanon is at risk of collapse, with devastating consequences for children, […]

Dominic West is in for Singing for Syrians – are you?!

The Big Give Christmas Challenge

This winter, Hands Up has been selected to take part in The Big Give Christmas […]

Press Release: Extraordinary UK charities come together at Lambeth Palace for Twelve Days of Christmas

This Christmas, UK charities are coming together at London’s historic Lambeth Palace for a unique […]

Christmas cards designed by Rory Hutton

We are delighted to be collaborating with Rory Hutton on our Christmas cards again this year. […]

Jellyfish – a Syrian startup based in Beirut

We have often heard success stories of Syrian refugees in their various host countries, but […]

On the first anniversary of the Beirut port explosion

The 4th of August has become an ominous date that will remain engraved in the […]

Press Release: Peter Capaldi to make BBC Radio 4 Appeal for Hands Up

Actor, director and writer Peter Capaldi makes a BBC Radio 4 Appeal on behalf of […]

Happy Eid al-Adha – عيد أضحى سعيد

Today Muslims will celebrate Eid al-Adha, which is one of their two holidays, or “Eids”. […]

The recent financial crisis in Syria and Lebanon and its impact on the Syrian community

Syria and Lebanon are neighbouring countries. Some relations and interests bind the two countries and […]

Zakat el-Fitr: A month of giving

In the lead up to Eid el-Fitr (the Festival of the Breaking of Fast), we […]

Ramadan Mubarak!

Today – 12th April – is the first day of Ramadan – the most sacred […]

Introducing Oula, Hands Up’s resident blogger!

I am glad to be part of the Hands Up Foundation and to write as […]

April’s Programme Report

Programme Report – April 2021 March this year marked ten years since the start of […]

Rawan’s story

In February 2020, all schools and education centres were closed for Lebanon’s first lockdown to […]

Five SAMS medical staff injured in airstikes on Al-Atareb surgical hospital

On Sunday, 21st March at 8.20am local time, three artillery strikes targeted the SAMS-supported Al-Atareb […]

Ten years on we must not accept Syria’s status quo

Today is an important marker: it is ten years since the Syrian conflict began. It’s […]

Jonathan Dove’s ‘Out of Time’, a filmed performance by the Sacconi Quartet

Against the dramatic backdrop of a derelict Victorian theatre, Sacconi Quartet perform a moving rendition […]

Celebrating International Women’s Day with Pink Jinn

As International Women’s Day – on the 8th March – is fast approaching, what better […]

Meet Maryam, a midwife at the SAMS Medical Clinic we support

The reproductive health clinic at the medical centre in Tel Abyad, north Syria, run by […]

Spreading light in a time of darkness – literally!

We’re over the moon to announce that Pooky and Hands Up have collaborated. What fantastic […]

Reflecting on this year and looking ahead to a brighter – but by no means less challenging – 2021

As the nightmare that is 2020 draws to an end, our impulse to try to […]

We’re very excited to introduce the Syrian Kitchen Club, bringing the most delicious and exclusive Syrian […]

Earl’s Court Film Festival 2020

We’re very proud to be supported by Earl’s Court Film Festival for the second year […]

Join our Smarties Challenge!

When social distancing makes fundraising trickier, Smarties have the answer! Join our Smarties Challenge and help us […]

An account from the Turkish Syrian border, October 2020

George Butler spent a week meeting our partners in Gaziantep in October 2020, these are […]

A new collection of ‘Damascus’ Silk Scarves & Pocket Squares designed exclusively for Hands Up by Rory Hutton

We’re very excited to announce a collaboration with award-winning artist, designer and historian Rory Hutton, who has […]

Meet 8-year-old Ibrahim and his older sister, our school in Lebanon’s two newest students

It is the beginning of the week and today, like last Monday and the Monday […]

Help us get through COVID-19 & sustain our work for vulnerable Syrian communities

COVID-19 has cancelled all our events this summer, which would have raised £70,000. Please support […]

What COVID-19 means for the school we support in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

Amid the world’s rising fears of the coronavirus outbreak spreading to more countries at an […]

Q&A with our Trustees: Jack

In a new series of blogs across the year we’re conducting, Hands Up have decided […]

Providing prosthetics to children in need across the world

Mitt Wearables create comfortable, easy-to-fit, user-friendly prosthetic limbs. This article was written by Nicholas Mellor, Mitt Wearables […]

Al Hakawati الحكواتي (The Storyteller)

Storytelling is one of Syria’s greatest traditions and Al Hakawati holds a special place in […]

APPEAL – Emergency medical supplies for Idlib

Urgent funds are needed for medical supplies in Idlib Donate online here The situation in North […]

Q&A with our Trustees: Louisa

In a new series of blogs across the year we’re conducting, Hands Up have decided […]

Shabaanee!

Hands Up’s regular blogger, Melie Pemberton, a teacher currently living in Beirut, has sent us […]

Update from Melie Pemberton our teacher on the ground in Lebanon

Hands Up’s new regular blogger, Melie Pemberton, a teacher currently living in Beirut, has sent […]

Hands Up receives Jusoor’s Bridges Award for transforming Syrian Lives

The Hands Up Foundation were awarded Jusoor’s Bridges Award on 4 October at Jusoor’s 6th […]

Stories from a teacher in Lebanon – Melie Pemberton

This is a picture of one of the lovely Syrian families I met whilst working […]

Introducing Melie Pemberton, our new Beirut Blogger

Hands Up is thrilled to introduce our new regular blogger, Melie Pemberton. Melie is a […]

Unlawful Airstrike closes Hands Up Primary Health Clinic

On Monday morning at 9am, the Primary Health Clinic supported by Hands Up, and managed […]

8 Years Gone: “As we reach the eight-year mark of this bitter conflict, I am asking you to raise your hand to do something positive to help.”

Eight years ago, I was living in Damascus. Before arriving in 2010, I had only […]

Readings from Singing for Syrians: Lament for Syria

Lament for Syria is a poem written by Amineh Abou Kerech, winner of the 2017 Betjamin […]

Readings from Singing for Syrians: In Memoriam (Ring Out, Wild Bells)

This beautiful poem by the great Lord Tennyson was read by the Attorney General, Geoffrey […]

From Gaziantep to the Syrian border, by Ruth Quinlan

16th – 19th October 2018 The team: Rose, Louisa, Amanda: Hands up Foundation director, founder […]

Eid al Adha – a time for compassion – and never has Syria needed it more

Eid Al-Adha is a celebration that brings happiness and joy to many communities across the […]

Seeing the Syrian border first hand

In early May, three of us went to the Turkish border with Syria, to meet […]

Seven years into Syria’s conflict; there is still so much that can and must be done

15th March 2018 Today marks the seventh year of the conflict in Syria. I remember […]

Rebuilding Syria’s Healthcare

A great piece of analysis from Abdulkarim Ekzayez, a Syrian medical doctor, discussing whether the […]

Urgent Idlib Appeal – raising £60,000 for vital health services in Idlib

It takes violence of unprecedented levels for Syria to be newsworthy at the moment. Perhaps […]

New monthly Syrian Supper Clubs launch in South London, West London and Bristol

We are very excited to announce that monthly Syrian Supper Clubs are launching in three new locations […]

Airstrikes lead to evacuation of Primary Health Clinic and temporary closure of Kindergarten

On the 7th January 2018 the Primary Health Clinic supported by Hands Up, and managed […]

Readings from Singing for Syrians: First Visit To Damascus By Train 1928

The final reading of the service was given by Colin Thubron, the acclaimed travel writer. […]

Readings from Singing for Syrians: Just William Meets Violet Elizabeth

The fourth reading of the service absolutely brought the house down. Martin Jarvis, narrator of […]

Readings from Singing for Syrians: Sam’s Christmas Pudding

The 2nd reading at our flagship carol service was this excellent monologue by Marriott Edgar, […]

Marmalaid is BACK

The Hands Up  Foundation / Abel & Cole team up continues apace, with our sold […]

Readings from Singing for Syrians: Five Letters To My Mother by Nizar Qabbani

This poem, the first reading at the Hands Up flagship carol service, is by Nizar […]

Why we must not forget Syria – George Butler’s address at Singing for Syrians

George, Trustee and Founder of Hands Up, gave the address at 2017’s flagship Singing for […]

Singing for Syrians flashmob raises the roof of Marylebone Station

Rush hour commuters at Marylebone Station got a festive surprise last Friday, courtesy of Singing […]

Singing for Syrians – Flagship Carol Service at St Margaret’s, Westminster

Join us for Hands Up’s flagship Singing for Syrians‘ carol service at St Margaret’s, Westminster on Tuesday 12th […]

Gift Aid – The Low Down on increasing your donation by 25%

You may have noticed that in doing your good deeds for Hands Up, we often […]

Hands Up and Abel & Cole’s partnership

For the last three years, Abel & Cole and Hands Up have been working together, […]

The Grand Souk of Prizes at Syria, Food for Thought

At Syria, Food for Thought this Thursday, 12th October, we will be inviting everyone to pledge […]

A Spotlight on Spirit of Syria

This week we wanted to put the spotlight on ‘Spirit of Syria’, a visual heritage project […]

What Your Support Means…to our friends in Syria

At Hands Up, we spend a huge amount of time making sure we know exactly […]

Singing for Syrians 2017 is here!

Singing for Syrians 2017 is here and we’re launching it in the House of Commons […]

Tickets are now on sale for Hands Up’s party: Syria, Food for Thought on 12th October – book quick!

Tickets are go – grab yours here Hands Up is back with a party this […]

The people behind Hands Up; the Board and the Team

THE TRUSTEES George Butler, Chair George is an award-winning artist and illustrator specialising in travel […]

Cycling for Syria! These lads are taking on the challenge, raising money for Hands Up as they go…

Check this out people, Lucas, Adam and Lucas are cycling the length of the Pyrenees […]

Hands Up newsletter – June 2017

Here’s the latest newsletter with everything that Hands Up has been doing, from new partners […]

A fabulous community sponsorship programme taking shape for Syrian refugees

This is a prime example of people bothering to get up and do something and […]

Syria, Food for Thought – SAVE THE DATE

Brace yourselves people, because Hands Up has a party coming to town… get the date […]

In May we spent a few days on the Syrian Turkish border meeting partners and visiting projects…

Sitting in an office in London (or anywhere in the UK) it is hard to […]

While in Gaziantep in May, we had the opportunity to speak with one of the doctors we fund at a primary health clinic in southern rural Aleppo, this is what he had to say…

Gaziantep, 10th May 2017, 12:55pm While meeting with staff from SAMS office in Gaziantep, we […]

Hands Up for Art?!

We went down to Park Loft Studios today to drop off some MarmalAid for their […]

MarmalAid goes north

#MarmalAid sales are on in Little Dockray, Penrith at #marmaladeawards. Come and see us! ? #penrithgoesorange #handsupfoundation […]

A letter to those who sang for Syrians in 2016 – raising over £140k!

Dear Singers, Thank you for all you did to raise money for some of Syria’s […]

MarmalAid – you spread on your toast, we’ll spread the love

Marmalade, the taste, smell and sight of it on toast conjures up different feelings for […]

This schoolgirl is raising money for Hands Up by shaving her head, we are VERY impressed!

Yeshe, in year six at Queen Anne’s School, is bravely shaving her head to raise […]

Leona Lewis sends a message for Singing for Syrians!

Hands Up – the latest, our first newsletter…

Dear all, We are very excited to send you Hands Up’s first official newsletter – it has […]

The Flower Seller of Aleppo – a rare snapshot of life inside Aleppo

L’Institut Francais are holding a screening of ‘Farouk, besieged like me’ by Mouhassaron Mithli

Check l’Institut Francais’ website for tickets… In this deeply personal documentary, veteran Syrian documentarian Hala […]

A letter on how to help Syrian refugees

Dear friends, Many of you have been asking where and how you can help Syrian […]

Making MarmalAid in 2015

Check out this video of MarmalAid making by the very lovely people at North 19 […]

A story of marmalade and a tale of two trees

Remembering the weeks running up to March 2011, when the streets of the city were […]

We had a Syrian Pop Up – throwback to our first Syrian Supper…

26th July 2012   Tonight we have our first Syrian pop-up restaurant. It is a […]