The charity’s refugee crisis appeal has broken the £3m barrier in under a fortnight

Save the Children’s Child Refugee Crisis Appeal has raised more than £3 million in just under two weeks.

The charity revealed the “phenomenal level of support” it has received to pay homage to the “generosity from corporate partners and the general public”.

The cash is enabling Save the Children to provide much-needed protection and help to those children fleeing their homes and seeking refuge in Europe, as well as supporting desperate children who remain in war-torn countries like Syria.

Companies have shown their support in a variety of ways, from huge financial donations such as £1m from Visa Europe to innovative ventures such as UberGiving, where drivers collected donated items for free to be sold in Save the Children shops. Companies have engaged employees to show their support, for example IKEA is creating an opportunity for co-workers to “work a day for free” and donate one day’s wages to the appeal.

Scottish football team Heart of Midlothian, who wear the Save the Children logo on their kit instead of a corporate sponsor’s logo, will hold bucket collections and a text-to-donate action at the match against Aberdeen this Saturday, 20 September.

Save the Children’s chief executive Justin Forsyth said: “These are tragic and desperate times for child refugees and their families, children are fleeing bombs, bullets and torture in warzones like Syria, only to drown in European waters.

“But it’s incredibly humbling to see people come together at a time of crisis and thanks to the generous support of our partners and the public we can do even more to stop children dying on our doorstep.”

Save the Children works in countries on the routes faced by fleeing refugees like Turkey, Egypt and Italy – ensuring children are protected wherever possible.

You can donate to Save the Children’s Child Refugee Crisis Appeal at savethechildren.org.uk or call 0800 8148 148.