A coalition of charities, campaigning and media organisations, including Refugee Action and Save the Children, convened outside Parliament to highlight that there have been 1.4 million actions urging the government do more to support refugees.

As part of today’s event Refugee Action’s will present its petition that has been signed by almost 10,000 people, making it the charity’s most popular petition to date.

Stephen Hale, chief executive of Refugee Action, said: “The public support for these petitions is just incredible. But it’s just one of the hundreds of ways in which people are stepping up to help refugees. Refugee Action is truly inspired by this support and compassion. We will do all we can to support both existing and new asylum seekers and refugees to rebuild their lives here in the UK.”

Representatives from Refugee Action, Save the Children, Citizens UK, the Independent, Amnesty International UK, Avaaz and 38 Degrees gathered in front of Parliament ahead of Prime Minister’s questions to put pressure on David Cameron to “make a clear commitment”.

Last week the British Red Cross, Save the Children and Islamic Relief were among those to launch fundraising appeals.

Save the Children says it has raised £1.2m in the first couple of days.

This week Uber, smartphone taxi service, announced a partnership with Save the Children. Between 12noon and 8pm today it will collect any goods donated by the public and deliver them to Save the Children to be sold in its charity shops for free.