Undies on the outside

Close to 100 men, women and children clad in their underwear walked through East Finchley to help those who are so destitute they can’t afford their own.  

Organiser Caroline Glasner was moved to act when she discovered the shocking poverty of destitute asylum seekers at a local drop-in, run by New North London Synagogue volunteers. She explained: “I can’t imagine having to wear someone else’s old undies nor do I want to.”

The walkers did a circular route from NNLS in East End Road via the Old Barn Community Centre and back to NNLS where Tesco presented a cheque for £750.
The Desperately Seeking Undies sponsored walk pulled in more than 5,000 items of underwear thanks to the generosity of local businesses and individuals. Figleaves, the online retailer based in Finchley, donated 1,000 items of lingerie alone.

Co-organiser Diane Taylor said: “It is truly shocking that people who have fled torture and persecution in oppressive regimes hoping to find sanctuary in the UK end up destitute, often in greater poverty than some of those in sub-Saharan Africa.”

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