This page had to close after one year but we have a new one: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/helpingourukrainianfriends

Our 8th delivery to Ukraine saw a team of 12 people from Peterborough successfully deliver over 6 tonnes of food, medicines, camping stoves, knitted garments and torniquets to Pastor Aleksander in the western Ukrainian town of Rivne. From there he will take these on to front line communities near Bakhmut and Lyman.

We also delivered over 800 Easter Gift Boxes. Some of these were given out to Ukrainian refugee children in Gliwice, Poland at an event we hosted for the refugee community there; others were taken to schools near Rivne and Kostopil and still more were send using the wonderful Ukrainian postal system (which delivered from Rivne to Odesa in less than 24 hours!) to communities in Kharkhiv, Odesa, Chernivtsi, Kyiv and Kryvy Rik.

I have to say that the predominant feeling I took from our friends in Poland and Ukraine is one of weariness, after a year of fear and uncertainty and a winter of struggle. Our help is incredibly well received, sending that message of support that is so vital, as well as the practical help that food and medicines gives.

We are already planning our next project, which will be to support a summer camp for Ukrainian mothers and children who have lost their fathers in the war. This will be held in Poland in early June. We will be fund-raising to support the camp financially but also hope to send a team of six Peterborough based volunteers to help run the camp, focusing on delivering arts and crafts and sports sessions every afternoon for the children.

We supported a similar camp in June 2022 offering some respite to children who have fled the war - many of whom will have experienced sheltering from bombs and making dramatic trips across the border and are now living without their fathers and in very cramped conditions. 160 children enjoyed a week of activities and a chance to relax in safety. Our Ukrainian friends in Poland also organised three week-long day camps in southern Poland, helping another 90 children which we helped fund.

After that we have plans for at least three more deliveries of essential supplies in the summer, autumn and winter. To date we have delivered over 20 tonnes of aid, 37 generators and over 1000 gift boxes and raised over £150,000. Thank you for all your help and support.

There are videos on our Facebook site showing the supplies being delivered - https://www.facebook.com/HelpingUkrainesSurgeons They are a very grim reminder of the shocking devastation across Ukraine and the plight of its people.

richard@athene-communications.co.uk

Helping Our Ukrainian Friends