Support for those affected by the Ukraine crisis

The invasion of Ukraine will elicit different responses from us all, but the prevailing reaction is to want to help. The trouble is knowing how to do this effectively.

Those personally effected wanting to assist friends and family in the region can find practical advice from Southwark Council.

Donations

For those wanting to help in other ways, the most effective action you can take is to make a financial donation to one of the following charities listed by the Mayor of London:

Disaster Emergency Committee has launched a Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal to support DEC charities and their local partners in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries to help provide food, water, shelter and medical assistance. The UK Government will match pound-for-pound up to £20 million donated by the public to this appeal.

UNHCR is urgently upscaling relief operations across Ukraine and in neighbouring countries to support fleeing civilians. Urgent needs include shelter, relief items such as blankets, and specialist protection – all rely on voluntary donations.

Save The Children has launched a Ukraine appeal in support of children and families that are in danger across the region. The charity is working to distribute essential supplies and winter kits of clothing and blankets, as well as providing cash and voucher assistance to families, offering mental health and psychosocial support and providing access to education.

International Rescue Committee is raising funds to help provide medical care, emergency food and other critical aid to families affected by conflict. They are working with local partners in Poland and Ukraine, to quickly mobilise resources that will provide lifesaving support to people forced to flee their homes.

International Committee of the Red Cross is working alongside its partners in the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to save and protect the lives of victims of the conflict in Ukraine.

British Red Cross is calling for donations to the Disaster Emergency Committee appeal in support of humanitarian aid charities. Currently, the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), together with fellow Red Cross National Societies in border countries, are working to get vital help to those impacted by this crisis.

Choose Love is working to get urgent support to the organisations stepping up to provide vital aid and services to those still in and fleeing the country. This includes: emergency medical care, food, shelter, clothes, legal support, support for the LGBTQIA+ community and mental health support.

British Ukrainian Aid supports people suffering from the war and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine by aligning UK and Ukrainian efforts. They offer assistance to vulnerable individuals who have been physically, mentally or socially disadvantaged, including the injured and wounded, orphaned children, the elderly, internally displaced persons and families who have lost their main earners.

Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) is working with accredited and registered Ukrainian charities to provide medicines, food and critical services to support the most vulnerable to overcome the consequences and trauma of war.

With Ukraine Global Support Fund is a special fund to support Ukraine set up by the Embassy of Ukraine in the UK.

Humanity & Inclusion UK (HI UK) has deployed a team of emergency experts to Ukraine and neighbouring countries to assess the humanitarian situation. Our priority is to assist the most vulnerable affected populations, including injured people, people with disabilities, elderly people and those with chronic illnesses.

Work Rights Centre provides advice in Ukrainian and other Eastern European languages. Their Ukrainian team member focuses on supporting vulnerable migrants on seasonal worker visas, and others who can escape the conflict and come to the UK using the EU Settlement Scheme. The Work Rights Centre also helps vulnerable migrants access employment protection and social security in the UK.

East European Resource Centre provides information, advice and support to people from Central and Eastern Europe. Their services are open for people seeking to join their family members in the UK through the EU Settlement Scheme, and will shortly launch a dedicated programme to support Ukrainians coming to and in the UK.

Settled provides free multilingual information, advice and support in different languages to EU citizens in the UK. Their services are open to people seeking to join the family members in the UK through the EU Settlement Scheme. They are accredited to give immigration advice up to OISC 3. Services are being expanded to meet the needs of Ukrainians coming to and in the UK.

Here for Good partners with law firms to deliver free high quality legal advice to Europeans and their family members living in the UK. They are fundraising to expand their services to support Ukrainian nationals during the current crisis.

Local Charities

The London Bridge community has always been generous in its response to crisis situations. The organisation London Plus has been building a list of organisations, particularly those that are London-based, for signposting and matching support for those affected by the Ukraine crisis. 

To see the full list click here or see the list of local organisations in Southwark below:

Southwark

Bermondsey and Rotherhithe Welcomes Refugees’ vision is to resettle a vulnerable refugee family into the Bermondsey and Rotherhithe community and to support them to fulfil a sustainable life in the UK. 

Southwark Day Centre For Asylum Seekers helps with the relief of poverty and distress, the promotion of health and the furtherance of education for asylum seekers and refugees (advice, social activities, creche, ESOL classes & foodbank). Telephone: 020 7732 0505

Southwark Law Centre continues to provide a specialist casework service, in the areas of immigration, housing employment, discrimination and welfare rights.

South London Refugee Association provides specialist advice and accessible, holistic support for refugees to move on from crisis, destitution or homelessness. Telephone: 02034903443 to find out more about how to donate. 

Southwark Refugees Community Forum was established by Refugee Community Organisations in Southwark to enable the voices of refugees themselves to be heard and to develop mutual support between newly arrived and more established communities. Email: eltayeb.hassan@southwarkrcf.org.uk Telephone: 020 7277 4400

Southwark Refugee Project (SRMP) is a well established voluntary organisation helping refugees and migrants in their journey towards integration through education and social activities. Email: swkrefproj@yahoo.com 

Donating Goods

Current advice is to donate financially, but if you would prefer to donate goods the nearest collection point is the Lewisham Polish centre in Forest Hill. They are accepting donations to send to Ukraine. Please check their Twitter or Facebook to see what items they currently need or contact them before arriving at the centre. Address: 8 Waldram Park Rd, London SE23 2PN