The kind

May 09, 2024

Throughout the year, their efforts have been remarkable.

Friday marks the one year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the lives of the Ukrainian people changed forever as war arrived in Europe for the first time since World War Two.

To mark the anniversary, throughout the year kind-hearted people and organisations in Gloucestershire have done their bit to help Ukraine, where they deserve recognition for their efforts.

Across the county, we've got restaurants sending out generators to the frontline, a community group knitting blankets and children doing cake sales outside their front door.

READ MORE: The Ukraine refugees rebuilding their lives in Gloucestershire a year since their country was invaded

Gloucester City Council's Cllr Jaro Kubaszczyk helped organise multiple collections around Gloucester and the wider county, all together with the Polish Association Gloucestershire, which helped to send over 15 lorries full of humanitarian aid.

"We need to show our solidarity with the Ukrainian nation and local Ukrainian community", Jaro says. "Because this war is a year now, which none of us expected, we need to stay strong and support them until victory".

We will probably miss more people who have done their bit to help Ukraine. Do you know someone or an organisation in Gloucestershire who should be included? You can contact our Community Reporter Will Luker or leave him an email [email protected]

Fishers Meadow in Quedgeley ran a car boot sale with other stalls involved, including Bros & Doughs. With entrance fees and participants paying to set up their stalls, all the money raised went to Gloucester Ukrainian Aid

Well done to Jack in Charlton Kings, who raised money for Ukraine by selling brownies, rocky road and a carrot cake tray bake.

The cinema in Kingsholm shows films such as Olga, the story of a 15-year-old Ukrainian gymnast exiled in Switzerland, and Paddington in Ukrainian. Box office tickets raise money for the Red Cross DEC Ukraine appeal.

A group of ladies in Gotherington decided to get their knitting needles out and create blankets ready to be sent out to Ukraine.

Stroud Brewery have done numerous things in support of Ukraine, which included this fundraising three course dinner. Staff and chefs donated their time and 90 guests raised £3,113.10, given directly to the Red Cross DEC Ukraine appeal.

With performances from the Cirencester Male Voice Choir, a Ciren Makes Music for Ukraine concert at the town's Baptist Church raised around £9,000 for the Red Cross DEC Ukraine appeal. The event also saw this cover sewn by Cirencester Sewing Club, which was auctioned.

Team members at Bolters in Coleford came in on days off to donate and bring humanitarian aid. The amount of donations from the community was so incredible that the whole of the restaurant's middle floor and downstairs hardly had any space left. A shout out goes to Bruce who made the trip to Ukraine and delivered everything.

The Mayor of Dursley Symon Ackroyd organised a benefit lunch on Sunday with the Everest Nepalese and Indian Restaurant on Long Street, which raised £500. The money raised helped families get out of Ukraine safely.

These trauma teddies were made by Barbara Morley from Churchdown and donated to the Red Cross DEC Ukraine appeal. The teddies made were sent out to refugee and orphan children to bring them some comfort.

Over 15 lorries full of humanitarian aid as organised by Cllr Jaro Kubaszczyk and a collective effort by the Polish Association Gloucestershire.

A charity performance of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream raised over £1,500 at The Antiques Barn at Didbrook Fields Farm near Winchcombe. The performance was held in open air and none of it would have been possible without Jenny Wren Productions from the Everyman Theatre

"I was in Poland with my daughter when the conflict started, knowing it was over the border was terrifying", Joanna says. As an artist, she did her bit and organised a few workshops to raise awareness, where Joanna decided to involve adults and children, including schoolchildren from Beech Green Primary, to paint the symbolic sunflower for Ukraine.

An incredible £1,200 was raised in March 2022 by the Croft Restaurant's Ukraine Coffee and Cake morning in Bourton-on-the-Water, as well as donations.

Sending numerous trucks out to Ukraine with humanitarian aid, none of the transportation would have been possible without B.H. Cecil and Sons, based in Blakeney.

Whilst the picture below was not taken at Christchurch Church in Abbeydale, their efforts to pack shoeboxes for Ukraine don't go unrecognised as part of Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child. "From Gloucestershire just over 8,000 shoebox gifts were sent to Moldova to be received by displaced Ukrainian children and we thank the people of Gloucestershire for their generosity", says Sheila Whitaker, Operation Christmas Child - Gloucestershire Coordinator. "The children receiving the boxes know that they are not forgotten and someone loves and cares for them".

On 26 March 2022, members of the Cheltenham and County Cycle Club got on their bikes for a "Ride to Kyiv". Not literally though, as they cycled the equivalent distance outside Pittville Pump Room. The club raised a total of £9,112 including gift aid for the British Red Cross DEC Ukraine Appeal.

Holding a collection at Sainsbury's for the Red Cross DEC Ukraine appeal which raised £2,500 and going on to hold a cushion stall at the Dursley Festival raising £262, the Rotary Club of Cotswold Tyndale have done their bit to help Ukraine. Over 140 Ukrainian families and their hosts also enjoyed afternoon tea with lots of games including face painting, skittles and a bouncy castle at Swinhay House.

Longhope Church in the Forest of Dean led a collection of warm clothing, which were delivered to a charity based in Hereford called “Hereford helps Ukraine”. The church also collected and delivered blankets, candles and Christmas gift boxes.

Organising a music festival in conjunction with the Gloucester Uklele Strings, the event put on by Spartans RFC raised £100 and was split half to Ukraine and half to their club's youth section

Putting on a celebration for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, The Reddings Community Centre in Cheltenham raised £515 for the Red Cross DEC Ukraine appeal