Day after day we are continuing to witness horrific images on television and online of Russia’s shocking and unprovoked attack on Ukraine. Residential buildings and hospitals are among those being bombed in an apparent bid by The Kremlin to seize control of the independent, East European nation.
The attempted invasion has already resulted in thousands of reported civilian deaths since it was launched on February 24th 2022, to the incredulity of most of the rest of the world. Whilst many thousands of Ukrainians have stayed behind to help their military, and try to defend their country against the invading Russian army, so far over two million citizens have fled across neighbouring borders. These are predominantly older people and women trying to get their babies and children to safety. It is creating a refugee crisis of unprecedented scale in post World War Two Europe.
Along with other communities in countries around the world, Ruddington residents and businesses have leapt into action to try to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine. One of the first to react to the crisis was Dave Frankie {pictured top, bottom right}, manager of the Frame Breakers pub in Ruddington. “I couldn’t do nothing” he tells RUDDINGTON.info. “I’m living a privileged life and knew I had to do something to help Ukranian refugees”.
Dave heard that a firm called Trident Security in Colwick had gone to the rescue of a group of Ukrainian truck drivers stranded in Northampton because their fuel cards had stopped working. After generous donations allowed them to provide fuel for all the drivers, in return they brought their lorries to Nottingham – with the idea of then driving them back to Ukraine packed with essential items for those in need.
Via the pub’s Facebook page, Dave rallied both volunteers and suitable donations from Ruddington and the surrounding areas to help fill the lorries. At 4pm on Tuesday {March 8th} the three HGVs left Nottingham, packed with medical supplies, baby food/clothes, nappies, sanitary products, needles and thread, batteries, blankets, camping bags, tents and much more, on their long journey back home to Ukraine.
“It was a phenomenal response from the community! But I still want to do more” says Dave.
His next move is to actually take another load of aid to the refugees himself, along with the owner of The Frame Breakers, John Noble. “We have organised a large van to take over to Poland” reveals John. “We are driving this over ourselves and will be leaving on Sunday 20th March. The local community of Ruddington have been fantastic with their donations. We have collected food, warm clothing, nappies, baby bottles, toiletries, etc. We now need some financial support to help cover the cost of the journey: the van hire, ferry crossing and diesel.”
The duo estimate their return journey will cost around £1,000 and have set up a JustGiving page to raise these funds >>HERE<<.
Anything you can give will be greatly appreciated and directly benefit the people of Ukraine” says John. Dave adds: “My friend Martha lives at Przemysl in Poland, near the Ukraine border. She’s currently housing 150 refugees in her warehouse – and desperately needs supplies for them.”
If you have suitable items to donate to Ukranian refugees, you’re asked to get in touch with Dave or John as soon as possible via The Frame Breakers Facebook page or by calling the pub on 0115 859 0060 please. Dry food products, preferably in smaller packs, would be especially welcomed.
The Frame Breakers is not the only Ruddington based business to rush to the aid of Ukraine…
MHR International, the HR, payroll and finance specialist, reveals it has donated £10,000-worth of essential items to support The East Midlands Polish Scouting Association’s Ukraine Crisis Appeal plus a £10,000 donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal set up by the The British Red Cross.
Alongside these, individual donations were also made by MHR employees, and collated at the firm’s Ruddington head office before being transported to Poland today – where it’s hoped they will provide further relief to Ukrainian refugees arriving in the country. Essential goods collected included blankets and sleeping bags, toiletries, medical items, clothes and baby supplies.
MHR Chairman Jessica Mills comments: “As a family-owned business, we felt very strongly about doing what we can to help those individuals and families fleeing Ukraine and we’re pleased to have been able to play a small role in providing donations to The Polish Scouting Association’s Ukraine Crisis Appeal. It is our sincerest hope that the donations we have made, both in essential items and to The British Red Cross, reach those who need it the most and provide some relief. We’d also like to thank Go Outdoors Nottingham for providing a substantial discount towards the goods purchased to ensure we could offer even more essential items.”
Danek Jackowski, District Commissioner of The Polish Scouting Association, adds: “Our hearts are with our Ukrainian friends, and we are proud of the incredible response in Poland to the escalating refugee crisis. We’re grateful to companies such as MHR for their generosity in supporting our Ukraine Crisis Appeal so we can continue to aid those who are desperately seeking refuge.”
Meantime, Ruddington residents who wish to support Ukrainians with housing accommodation, in anticipation of a promised forthcoming national sponsorship scheme, are requested to complete their details in a survey by Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC).
Complementing the authority’s existing family visa scheme it is expected that the government will soon be launching the new sponsorship scheme. This is set to ensure that those forced to flee their homes have a route to safety in a scheme that will match people, charities, businesses and community groups to Ukrainians who do not have family ties to the UK.
RBC advises that details of the scheme and how residents can apply will be published shortly by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. In the meantime, the Council is collating information from residents who may wish to offer support with a special survey >>HERE<< which will then be shared with the East Midlands Council’s Strategic Migration Partnership.
RBC says it’s important to note that clarity on the practical implementation of the scheme could still take several weeks to action – at which point contact will be made to individuals to provide further information on any proposed relocation scheme and criteria.
All the latest advice for Ruddington residents on the wider help and support available is at www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/ukraine.
