Our support for our Ukrainian guests is an ever changing scene. As their needs change from providing basic items of necessity to helping them to integrate into our society, finding work and learning the language and culture of their new homes we endeavor to change and meet this demand.

As our guests started to arrive, many of them having left their homes with few possessions, we set up an area of our premises we called “The Shop”.  Using only pallets and carboard boxes we provided items such as clothing, toiletries and sanitary products all free of charge.

As this need grew, we teamed up with a well-established charity, Emmaus Hull & East Riding, who were able to provide a retail environment for our guests.  To continue providing these items free of charge, we have set up a voucher scheme that provides these items when our Ukrainian guests first arrive in the UK.

Larger items of furniture such as beds, wardrobes, tables and chairs as well as lounge sofas and chairs are provided for our guests with an agreement between the local authorities and a charity we are proud to be in partnership with, Emmaus Hull and East Riding.

In conjunction with another charity, Welcome House, we have provided English lessons for our guests free of charge as well as coffee mornings.

Part of the support we provide for our guests was participation in an official Welcome Event. The event was coordinated by North Bank Forum, Hull City Council, Welcome House and Hull4Ukraine.

Information was provided to our guests by the Local Authority, the NHS, Police and Fire Services as well as local employers and employment agencies.

Each of the talks was translated into Ukrainian and the day finished with children’s entertainment.

There have been numerous fundraising events. These are some of the highlights: –

• Four Choirs concert at Trinity Methodist Church, Cottingham Road raised £3084.48.  A beautiful concert with a generous result.
• Crowdfunder account set up at the beginning of the conflict produced a total of £5064.17
• Freedom festival street collection raised £3565.11
• Donation from HICA £2325.00
• Art exhibition at Hull Truck theatre.