This article highlighting several fundraising appeals to help people in Ukraine is provided courtesy of Civil Society, a fantastic resource providing the latest charity sector news on fundraising, finance, governance and leadership, charity regulation and policy and politics.
UK-based charities and community groups have stepped up fundraising activity after Russia invaded Ukraine, following weeks of tension and diplomatic efforts.
Charities and individuals have launched fundraising appeals for people who are affected and called for an end to the fighting.
1. Help Ukraine Emergency Appeal
Earlier this month a group of Ukrainian organisations in the UK launched an appeal, anticipating a humanitarian crisis and lasting trauma for people in the region.
The GoFundMe page has reached £1,712,240 as of Thursday 3rd March 2022. Its funding target is £2 million. This is apparently now the biggest ever GoFundMe appeal.
Organisations involved in the appeal include:
o The Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London.
o Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Great Britain.
o Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB).
o Association of Ukrainian Women (AUW).
o Ukrainian Youth Association (CYM).
o Plast Ukrainian Scouts in Great Britain, and
o Association of Ukrainian Teachers (AUT).
2. Walk for Ukraine
Dan Zenchuk, whose parents are from Ukraine, plans to walk 152 miles to raise money for the Support Ukraine UK Appeal.
He is a member of the private Facebook community, which was launched this January, and aims to raise money by walking to seven locations spelling out the word “Ukraine” (Uppingham, Kettering, Rugby, Ashby De La Zouch, Ilkeston, Newark and Empingham).
Zenchuk has been featured in local and national newspapers. He told the Peterborough Telegraph: “We set up a Facebook page and spread the word around the Ukrainian community in the UK, initially we organised local collections of aid items from the community, with myself covering Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire. In the first round we collected 140kgs just from the community in Peterborough alone and 500kg in total.
“Through my company, Danzen Logistics Ltd, I offered to sponsor the first ton of aid to be sent. In addition to this, we started a go fund me page to raise funds to buy equipment in Ukraine also – this to date has raised over £3,200 in just two weeks.
“I was really happy at the support we received but wanted to do something personal and that’s where Walk For Ukraine came from.”
His crowdfunding page at JustGiving has so far raised £5,910 out of its target of £7,500.
3. Save the Children
Save the Children has been operating in Ukraine since 2014. Its activity includes support for education, providing psychosocial support, distributing winter kits and hygiene kits, and providing cash grants to families so they can meet basic needs such as food, rent and medicines, or so they can invest in starting new businesses.
People can donate to its Ukraine Appeal at Save the Children’s emergency fund here.
