Water and hygiene
Water, sanitation and hygiene
Clean water points, hot showers and hygiene supplies. More than 5 million litres delivered since 2021.
To confirmWhat we do
Four services, every day
Since the large eviction at the end of 2021, the role of Roots has changed considerably.
People were moved to a site with no running water, so we built water points and carried drinking water in by van through 2022 and 2023. In summer 2024 the state installed two fixed water points. We now keep those clean and stocked, and run the showers, the charging tables, the bins and the clean-ups that make daily life possible.
Dates
Image 7 · 4:3Wide scene of the distribution site: van, gazebo, tables, people at a distanceConsent, rights and credit to confirm
How a day runs
Our volunteer team drives out from the warehouse each morning with water, hygiene supplies, the generator and the charging tables. We set up at the distribution site, open the showers, plug in the tables, empty the bins and pick litter. Partner organisations serve hot meals at the same site. In the evening we pack down, clean the water points and restock for tomorrow.
Digital inclusion
Digital inclusion
192 charging spaces, free Wi-Fi, a warm dry place to sit, and information people can trust.
Environmental care
Environmental care
Bins, daily litter picking, recycling and big community clean-ups.
Food and nutrition
Food and nutrition
Hot meals served with Refugee Community Kitchen and Bethlehem, 600 to 900 portions a day.
To confirmGrande-Synthe, near Dunkirk
People living outside in Grande-Synthe are mostly waiting to cross the Channel. Conditions are extremely difficult: no shelter, no sanitation, regular evictions, and winters that are cold and wet. Roots does not run a camp. We provide services at a fixed site so that the basics of water, hygiene, power and information are reliably there.
Image 8 · 16:9Simple map or wide landscape photo showing the area. No people identifiable.Consent, rights and credit to confirm
Working towards the global goals
Our programmes contribute to UN Sustainable Development Goals 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 13, 16 and 17. List
Image 9 · tileSDG 1Consent, rights and credit to confirm
Image 9 · tileSDG 3Consent, rights and credit to confirm
Image 9 · tileSDG 5Consent, rights and credit to confirm
Image 9 · tileSDG 6Consent, rights and credit to confirm
Image 9 · tileSDG 7Consent, rights and credit to confirm
Image 9 · tileSDG 10Consent, rights and credit to confirm
Image 9 · tileSDG 12Consent, rights and credit to confirm
Image 9 · tileSDG 13Consent, rights and credit to confirm
Image 9 · tileSDG 16Consent, rights and credit to confirm
Image 9 · tileSDG 17Consent, rights and credit to confirm
Official SDG tile artwork for the ten goals. SDG artwork files to supply