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  • 24 tonnes of rice and lentils en route to Cuba

    24 tonnes of rice and lentils en route to Cuba

    On 28 February, 24 tonnes of rice and lentils left the UK bound for Cuba as part of the new Cuba Vive Food Aid Appeal. This shipment marks the launch of emergency food shipments alongside our ongoing medical programme. With President Trump intensifying sanctions and introducing new measures effectively blocking fuel supplies to the island,…


  • 23 tonnes of powdered milk delivered as hurricane relief

    23 tonnes of powdered milk delivered as hurricane relief
    Powdered milk donated to Cuba (photo for context)

    An emergency shipment of humanitarian aid arrived in Cuba in November thanks to donations to the Cuba Solidarity Campaign’s (CSC) Hurricane Melissa Relief Appeal and Cuba Vive. Thanks to the generosity of supporters, CSC raised £71,500 to purchase 23 tonnes of powdered milk. The shipment will provide essential nutrition for children, pregnant women and elderly…


  • Cuba Vive appeal reaches £250,000 – Thank you and let’s keep going!

    Cuba Vive appeal reaches £250,000 – Thank you and let’s keep going!

    Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of supporters, the Cuba Vive Medical Aid Appeal has surpassed its £250,000 end-of-year fundraising target. This remarkable achievement is a powerful expression of solidarity between people in Britain and Cuba at a time of acute need. In October, two 40-foot shipping containers of urgently needed medical aid arrived at the Cuban port…


  • Help us reach £250,000 by the end of the year

    Help us reach £250,000 by the end of the year

    The Cuba Vive Medical Aid Appeal has exceeded expectations and raised £220,000 so far — a testament to the depth of support for the people of Cuba from CSC members, friends and the trade union movement. Thanks to your generosity, hundreds of thousands of essential medical supplies, from syringes to surgical gloves and crutches to…


  • Derbyshire walk raises over £1,300

    Derbyshire walk raises over £1,300

    A massive thank you to everyone who took part in the Derbyshire Walk for Cuba on 26 July. The sponsored event, which coincided with Moncada Day in Cuba, started at the Cromford Canal Visitors Centre and participants raised more than £1,300 for life-saving medical aid.


  • Messages of thanks from Cuban cancer hospital

    Cuba Vive aid supports Cuban cancer hospital In May, CSC director Rob Miller visited Havana’s Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology, one of the hospitals that has benefited from the Cuba Vive appeal, and spoke to staff and patients about how the medical aid was helping their work and treatment. You can watch their messages here.


  • More medical aid en route to Cuba

    More medical aid en route to Cuba
    Rob Miller CSC director with staff at Jacob’s Well packing the third consignment of medical aid for Cuba

    With your help, the Cuba Vive appeal hopes to raise over £200,000 by the end of the year Eighteen months after its launch, the Cuba Vive Medical Appeal for Cuba has raised more than £190,000 and will hopefully surpass £200,000 by the end of the year. Thanks to the generosity of CSC members, affiliates and…


  • Derbyshire fundraising walk

    Derbyshire fundraising walk

    Cromford Canal Visitor Centre, Matlock, DE4 5HN Saturday, 26 July 2025, 11:30am Join Derbyshire CSC on a fundraising Walk for the Cuba Vive Medical Aid Appeal on Sat 26 July. It will be a 4 mile walk starting at 11.30am from Cromford Canal Visitor Centre. For more details please contact Adrian who is coordinating 07757…


  • Life-saving medical aid arrives in Cuba

    Life-saving medical aid arrives in Cuba

    Rob Miller, CSC director, reports on the latest delivery of Cuba Vive medical aid, and plans for future shipments Two consignments of Cuba Vive medical aid have now arrived in Cuba. An emergency delivery of urgent paediatric supplies, which was sent by plane in January, is already in use in hospitals across the island. A…


  • Warwick NEU social and fundraiser

    Warwick NEU social and fundraiser

    On 15 March NEU Warwickshire District organised a fantastic evening of politics, live music, dancing, food and heaps of solidarity with the Cuban people that raised £904 for the Cuba Vive appeal.  We were delighted to have three inspiring guest speakers. Lauren Ekins – primary school teacher, NEU rep from Southend, and participant in the…


  • Solidarity from the South West

    Solidarity from the South West

    On 24 and 25 January, Cuban ambassador Ismara Vargas Walter and CSC Campaigns and Communications Manager Natasha Hickman spoke at a cross-union fringe meeting in Exeter organised by South West UNISON, and the next morning addressed UNISON’s Regional Council meeting to raise awareness of the Cuba Vive appeal. At the fringe, films were shown to…


  • First two consignments of Cuba Vive medical aid ready to ship

    First two consignments of Cuba Vive medical aid ready to ship

    The Cuba Solidarity Campaign is delighted to announce that the first two consignments of life-saving medical aid are ready to ship, and are due to arrive in Cuba in just a few weeks’ time. Thanks to the generous and ongoing support of Cuba Vive appeal donors, these are the first of several consignments planned for…


  • Cuba Vive raises more than £129,000 for medical aid

    Cuba Vive raises more than £129,000 for medical aid

    After just ten months of fundraising the Cuba Vive medical aid appeal has raised more than £129,000 and is on course to match the £150,000 that CSC supporters raised for emergency aid during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Cuba Solidarity Campaign is incredibly grateful to all our members, local groups, trade union affiliates and supporters who…


  • Welcoming new key union sponsors

    CSC is delighted that the number of UNISON regions sponsoring the appeal has now risen to nine: Eastern, Greater London, North West, Northern, Northern Ireland, Scotland, South West, Wales, and West Midlands. In addition Unite South West, FBU North West, and ASLEF, CWU, FBU, NEU, POA, RMT and Unite national unions have all either made…


  • North West Cuba Vive Rally

    North West Cuba Vive Rally

    To celebrate reaching £100,000, CSC held a Cuba Vive rally during Labour Party Conference at the Casa in Liverpool in September. More than 150 people came to support the event which aimed to raise funds for the appeal and celebrate Cuba’s internationalism and solidarity with Palestine. Opening the speeches, Richard Burgon MP praised the work…


  • CSC Ceredigion: Cuba Vive fundraiser and film screening, Aberystwyth

    CSC Ceredigion: Cuba Vive fundraiser and film screening, Aberystwyth

    Saturday 7 December, 6pmThe Studio, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth SY23 3DE You are invited to an evening of solidarity, film and music to raise funds for the Cuba Vive medical aid appeal. The programme will include a special screening of the film ‘Moments with Fidel’ by Rebeca Chavez plus music, firsthand reports from Cuba, refreshments,…


  • Birmingham Fundraising Social

    Birmingham Fundraising Social

    with guest speakers Her Excellency Ismara Vargas Walter, Cuban Ambassador Flavia Ocampo (Health Union, Nicaragua) Plus food, drinks, music, salsa, dominoes, short films, quiz, and raffle. All welcome. Friday 22 NovemberSt Andrews Community Centre, Handsworth, Tickets £5 or £10 on the door,contact bhamcsc@gmail.com to reserve orn to donate if you can’t make it.


  • Bristol meeting and fundraiser with Cuban Ambassador

    Bristol meeting and fundraiser with Cuban Ambassador

    Wednesday 6 November, Tony Benn House, Victoria St, BS1 6AY 6pm Refreshments, 6.45pm speakers and fundraising quiz with guest speakersIsmara Walter Vargas, Cuban AmbassadorSteve Preddy, Regional Secretary, Unite South West


  • Cuban Salsa Workshop – raising funds for medical aid for Cuba

    Cuban Salsa Workshop – raising funds for medical aid for Cuba

    South London CSC presents a Salsa Workshop in aid of the Cuba Vive appeal Saturday 14 September 2024, 10:30am No prior dancing experience is needed – we will learn the basic steps and moves from zero, all for Cuba. Every penny raised from the tickets (£20 per person) will support the Cuba Vive medical aid…


  • North West Rally & Fundraiser

    North West Rally & Fundraiser

    END THE BLOCKADE ON HEALTHJoin us during the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool for an evening of speakers and films on Cuban internationalism, health and solidarity with Palestine to raise money for the Cuba Vive medical appeal. Public meeting, all welcome Monday, 23 September 6-8pm The Casa, 29 Hope St, Liverpool, L1 9BP withHer Excellency…


  • Medical aid appeal passes £80,000

    Medical aid appeal passes £80,000

    Join the final push to reach our £100,000 target The Cuba Vive medical aid appeal is on course to reach our £100,000 fundraising target, and hopefully beyond, thanks to the kind donations of CSC supporters. The Cuba Solidarity Campaign is grateful to all our members, local groups, trade union affiliates and supporters who have helped…


  • NEU funds medical aid for residential education centres

    NEU funds medical aid for residential education centres

    The shortages in the Cuban health service also impact the education sector. These are especially acute in educational care and residential settings, where everything from basic first aid kits, PPE, and paediatric medical supplies are scarce. The NEU responded to a special request from the Cuban education union (SNTECD) for medical aid for children in…


  • Cuba Vive fundraisers in Norwich and Llangollen

    Sunday 11 August, 2pm, NorwichFundraising BBQUEA Broad, University Drive, NR4 7RJ Friday 30 September, 7pm, LlangollenFundraising Salsa NightLlangollen Town Hall, Castle St, LL20 8NU If you would like us to publicise any events or sponsored activities on the Cuba Vive website and social media, please send details to office@cuba-solidarity.org.uk


  • Support Russ’s sponsored ride!

    Support Russ’s sponsored ride!

    Russ Harland, an International Officer for Surrey Unison is doing a 126km sponsored run, ride and cross train for the appeal. The distance is that between the University of the East in Santiago de Cuba, one of the many medical universities which have put Cuba’s health service on the map, and Guantanamo Bay, site of…


  • Local group and individual fundraising

    Local group and individual fundraising

    Recent fundraising activities by CSC local groups have also brought in thousands of pounds to the appeal. Merseyside CSC raised £800 from their night of music and protest songs in April, Manchester CSC raised £200 following a talk by Rigoberto Zarza Ross at Bolton Socialist Club in June, and Ceredigion CSC raised £109 from their…


  • Cuba Vive – £30,000 raised!

    Cuba Vive – £30,000 raised!

    Thanks to generous donations from CSC members, trade unions and supporters, our appeal to send life-saving medical aid to Cuba has already raised tens of thousands of pounds! We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has donated to the Cuba Vive appeal. It’s fantastic that we have already raised £30,000. But we are aiming much…


  • Memories of Underdevelopment screening, Leeds

    Memories of Underdevelopment screening, Leeds

    Wednesday, 22 May, 7pmWharf Chambers, 23-25 Wharf Street, Leeds, LS2 7EQ Leeds CSC are working with Cinema Pending to screen the classic Cuban film ‘Memories of Underdevelopment’, along with other short films, a raffle and zines to raise funds for the Cuba Vive appeal. Tickets and further information here


  • The 17th RMT Garden Party for Cuba

    The 17th RMT Garden Party for Cuba

    Maritime House, Old Town, Clapham, London, SW4 0JW   Wednesday 12 June, 6:30-10.30pm In association with the RMT, CSC presents the 17th RMT Garden Party for Cuba Featuring the legendary salsa beats ofOmar Puente and Raices Cubanas(6 piece salsa band) withRMT General Secretary Mick LynchIsmara Mercedes Vargas Walter, Cuban ambassador to UKplus special guest speakers…


  • Oxfordshire NEU Presents : A Night in Havana

    Oxfordshire NEU Presents : A Night in Havana

    Friday 17 May, 8pmGladiator Club, 263 Iffley Road, Oxford, OX4 1SE A night of Cuban music and culture with legendary live band Ran Kan Kan, a Salsa class, a raffle with fabulous prizes and special guests. All proceeds from the raffle will go to the Cuba Vive campaign for medical aid. Cuba is still under the longest…


  • South London Solidarity Dinner

    South London  Solidarity Dinner

    Sunday 28 April, 6pm Join South London CSC at Timur Restaurant in south London for our 2nd Solidarity Dinner against the blockade. On this occasion, we will raise funds for the ‘Cuba Vive’ medical aid appeal, to help send life-saving medicines, surgical and other vital medical aid to Cuba. We will be joined by Ismara…


  • Merseyside CSC presents: Cuba Vive – medical aid fundraiser

    Merseyside CSC presents: Cuba Vive – medical aid fundraiser

    The Casa, Hope St, Liverpool Wednesday, 24 April 2024, 7:30pm Merseyside CSC presents a night of acoustic music and protest songs in aid of Cuba Vive, a fundraising appeal to send life-saving medical aid to Cuba. Tickets £5.Available on the door or in advance here.


  • Messages from donors who have helped to raise more than £10,000 for Cuba Vive!

    Messages from donors who have helped to raise more than £10,000 for Cuba Vive!

    Cuba Vive, the new appeal to ship life-saving medical aid to Cuba has already raised more than £10,000 in donations from CSC members and supporters just three weeks after its launch. The vast majority of the 185 donations received up to 19 February come from individuals, several of whom also sent messages of support. “I…


  • US blockade stopping life-saving medicines and vital medical aid to Cuba

    US blockade stopping life-saving medicines and vital medical aid to Cuba

    I first visited Cuba 20 years ago and was struck by how healthy the children looked, despite the fact that the country was poor, buildings were falling down, and goods were in short supply. I have been fortunate to visit Cuba and its health institutions many times since. This has given me an insight into…


  • UNISON regions agree to launch health appeal

    UNISON regions agree to launch health appeal

    In October 2023, four UNISON regions met at an annual international weekend in Glasgow where they heard from North West delegates who had recently returned from a delegation to Cuba. The delegates reported on the shortages and difficulties facing health care workers that they had witnessed for themselves. Cuban ambassador Barbara Montalvo also spoke to…


  • “Your support and solidarity really does make a difference” UNISON President tells conference

    “Your support and solidarity really does make a difference” UNISON President tells conference

    Report back from UNISON Conference June 2023 Removing Cuba from the US government’s state sponsors of terrorism list will be a priority for the Cuba Solidarity Campaign over the coming months, CSC Director Rob Miller told attendees at our fringe meeting at UNISON NDC in June. UNISON North West Regional Secretary and Assistant General Secretary…