Like all of you, we have watched the very distressing situation unfolding in Ukraine. We are all shocked and saddened by the footage and stories we are seeing each day. More than 800,000 civilians have now fled the country as refugees through Moldova, Romania, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary.

Through the work we have done through our Giving Hope Through Education and our partnership with School in a Bag we have been able to get in touch with the team at the charity Te Aud Romania, who we partnered with two years ago to distribute School Bags to the children in the orphanage at Gura Humorului. They are very close to Ukraine, just 60km or a 1-hour car drive to the border, and they are being inundated with families fleeing the fighting.

To help the vulnerable children and families having to flee Ukraine, we have partnered with School In A Bag to fund School Bags as part of their Ukraine Appeal. The School Bags will be sent to Te Aud Romania so they can distribute them to the children as they transition through their area.

The contents of the bags will be adapted slightly so they are lighter to carry, they will have less exercise books but will include the important items such as Toothpaste and Toothbrush, Soap and Face Cloth, Water Bottle and a Lunch Box and Spork.

The request is very urgent so we will need to move quickly. Most of these children have left their homes with nothing so these supplies will be invaluable to them.

Blake is committed to donate our profits between Friday 4th - Monday 7th March towards this.

If you would like to join us in donating a bag, you can do so via the link.

We aim to pack the bags at the Blake head office in Yeovil, between Monday and Tuesday next week with a view to having the bags shipped and in the hands of the team at Te Aud Romania before the end of next week.