due to covid-19 we have put our workshop on hold and are focusing solely on delivering information and sanitation in the camp to avoid the spread of the virus. Please find our updates on twitter & Facebook & get in touch if you can help from afar. PLEASE Stay home, IF YOU CAN & safe.
An environmentally-friendly approach to the refugee crisis
Refugee Support | efficient systems | Green Alternatives

charitable roots
What is Roots?
Roots was set up in Calais in 2017 following the demolition of the 'Jungle' refugee camp. While the structure of the camp disappeared, the flow of refugees didn't, so we set up an electronics workshop where we create ingenious solutions to the ongoing problem of affordable energy for those on the move.
We repurpose 18650 Lithium-ion batteries that are found in a multitude of rechargeable electronic devices. We build portable personal power banks which are then distributed by our partners, so that refugees can keep their phones charged as well as USB heating pads during the winter to prevent the onset of hypothermia during these bitterly cold winter nights.
It costs us £2.50 to build a power bank worth £20.
88 % COST REDUCTION | 8 PHONE CHARGES | 4 USB PORTS
We also build charging boxes which replace those noisy, polluting petrol generators.
Projects like this provide people with essential life saving items on a scale and at a price that would not be sustainable by purchasing these items wholesale.
A phone is not only where family photos and contacts are kept, it also provides access to vital aid including food, clothes, shelter and medical care when displaced.

All materials used in each of our Power Bank devices are thoroughly tested to ensure the completed product will be working at full throttle.
The 18650 Lithium-Ion batteries especially go through a lengthy testing process in order to prevent any risk of accident or injury should any be unstable.
Charging Chip (£1.20)
18650 Batteries (Recycled)
Charging Capacity
Portability
Size
Charging Time
Casing (£1.00)
Nickel Strip (£0.30)
a few figures, SINCE WE STARTED...
5000
batteries processed
760
power banks built and distributed
500
13000
hand warmers built and distributed
pounds saved on power banks alone


Each power bank we build and distribute comes with this useful information sticker for those on the move, including Phone Credit For Refugees, REF AID app, and the French emergency number
Get Involved
This means we need...

litter pickers
Waste management is an essential but often overlooked part of grassroots aid work which has a serious impact on both the refugees' health, the environment and the local citizens. We provide communities within the camp with a bin that is emptied via our waste management programme and carry out weekly litter picks.
Want to volunteer and help us clean the place up?