Ukraine - local support
Published: 22 March 2022
As Ukrainian families continue to escape their war-torn country, many local residents in West Berkshire and Reading areas are generously coming forward to offer their support. Here are some ways in which everyone can help.
At its meeting on Thursday 17 March 2022, West Berkshire Council (WBC) passed a motion in support of Ukrainians who are looking for a safe haven in West Berkshire. Work to resettle Ukrainian nationals in the district is already underway and will evolve as details of the various schemes are made known to WBC.
In the meantime, the council has a dedicated Ukraine Support Hub which will provide help for those coming to the UK, and to those who will host a family under the recently announced Homes for Ukraine Scheme.
Greenham Trust has set up an appeal on The Good Exchange to provide local funding to support those families arriving in West Berkshire. Greenham Trust and WBC have each committed to contributing £25,000 in match funding, ensuring public, corporate and trust/foundation donations to this appeal are matched £1 for £1 for the first £50,000 raised. You can donate funds on the web site.
The Support Hub is open five days a week from 8.30am to 5.00pm, Monday to Thursday, and from 8.30am to 4.30pm on Friday. To get in touch, please call WBC on 01635 503579 or send an e-mail to ukraine@westberkshire.gov.uk.
Residents can also offer financial assistance by donating to the Disasters Emergency Committee or the British Red Cross.
Other ways to help
The Reading Ukrainian Community Centre is collecting donated items, and there is also a list of charities accepting financial donations to be used in support of the humanitarian effort, including:
https://unitedhelpukraine.org/
https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-crisis-appeal
https://www.gofundme.com/f/helpukraine
https://www.facebook.com/sunflowerofpeace/
https://donate.unrefugees.org.uk/ukraine.../~my-donation...
http:///british-ukrainianaid.org/
https://www.rsukraine.org/
https://www.withukraine.org/
https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/.../eme.../ukraine-appeal