Ukraine Appeal Latest
Ukraine Appeal Latest
Update from the Charity Commission on safe giving to support Ukraine
The Charity Commission and Fundraising Regulator have urged the public to ‘give safely’ to registered charities helping and supporting those affected by the invasion of Ukraine. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/regulators-urge-safe-giving-to-support-ukraine
Disasters Emergency Committee appeal fund
The Disasters Emergency Committee has set up an emergency appeal fund for Ukraine which is a coalition of 15 leading charities: https://www.dec.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-humanitarian-appeal
Update from Surrey Local Resilience Forum on donations and humanitarian support
We would advise that all UK nationals follow the FCO advice and not to travel to Ukraine for any reason, (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ukraine) and it is not something we should be encouraging or supporting. If the intent is to go to Poland, then again the NGOs in the area are urging that this type of activity is hindering and not helping them in their efforts and although the travel advice to Poland does allow travel. The NGOs in the eastern NATO/EU states are asked that support is made with donations to the Disaster Emergency Committee Appeal, to allow assistance to be provided directly to those in need. We all want to help those fleeing the conflict and Surrey Residents and Community groups have a long history of imaginative ways to raise money to support good causes and at the moment the needs of the Ukrainian people is one of the most pressing and urgent issues we face. The donation of goods does involve the time to not only collect them, but also to transport them to the Ukrainian borders and is often not the quickest way to get supplies to those in need.
Update from the Home Office and the DCMS on support for family members of British nationals in Ukraine and Ukrainian nationals in Ukraine and the UK
The government updated its page on GOV.UK with guidance about the support available for family members of British nationals in Ukraine, and Ukrainian nationals in Ukraine and the UK. New information has been included to reflect the announcement by the Home Secretary, Rt Hon Priti Patel MP, on 1 March where she set out a bespoke humanitarian support package for Ukrainians in a speech to Parliament. This includes establishing an expansive Ukrainian Family Scheme so that British nationals and people settled in the UK can bring a wider group of family members to the UK, extending eligibility to parents, grandparents, adult offspring, siblings, and their immediate family members. Those joining family in the UK will be granted leave for an initial period of 12 months. They will be able to work and access public funds.
The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Rt Hon Nadine Dorries MP, also gave a statement to the House of Commons on Ukraine, highlighting that culture and sport can be equally as effective as economic sanctions against the Russian state, if used in the right way.
Announcement: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/further-support-for-ukrainians-fleeing-russia-invasion
Statements: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/dcms-secretary-of-states-oral-statement-on-ukraine
Factsheet: https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2022/02/25/home-office-action-on-ukraine/
Update from DFT and DHSC on Covid guidance relating to travel to England from Ukraine
Yesterday (2 March), the government updated the guidance on what people must do before they travel to England and after they arrive. The update confirms that passengers do not need to complete a passenger locator form or take a COVID-19 test before they travel to England or on arrival, if they began their journey to England in Ukraine.
Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19