Monifieth couple head to Calais on mission to help build shelters for refugees

A Monifieth couple have set off as part of a mission to build shelters for refugees at Calais.

Monifieth High School assisted learning teacher Gemma Chapman, her husband Craig and a group of people from Dundee and Glasgow are to spend the next week at the camp, building shelters, distributing aid and teaching youngsters there.

The Angus couple have arranged for £2,500 worth of materials to be delivered to the site after being struck by the plight of those fleeing Syria.

Gemma said: “Craig has a construction firm and we initially wanted to donate a van to help with supplies, but then we saw the photo that emerged of the drowned Syrian toddler, Aylan Kurdi.

“I have a two-year-old daughter, and that really struck us both.

“I knew the October holidays were coming up and began looking at charities working on the ground.

“The camp has been receiving lots of aid donations, which are critical, but they do not have the manpower on the ground to distribute the volumes coming in.”