London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 31, 2025

Ukraine help: What can people in the UK do?

Ukraine help: What can people in the UK do?

With warnings about an unfolding humanitarian crisis following Russia's invasion of Ukraine - many people in the UK are searching to find out how they can help or offer assistance. So what are some of the ways they can do so?
Donations


A number of UK charities have launched appeals. The British Red Cross has launched a Ukraine Crisis Appeal to support the work of the Ukrainian Red Cross to fund food, water, first aid, medicines, warm clothes, and shelter.

Red Cross teams are also providing first aid training to people in metro stations and bomb shelters. And in the last few days, have delivered over 15,000 litres of drinking water to villages in eastern Ukraine.

The UNHCR refugee agency is collecting monetary donations for humanitarian assistance, emergency shelter and relief items like blankets. It will also fund psychological support for refugees.

Emma Cherniavsky, chief executive of UK for UNHCR, said "despite ongoing security challenges" relief is getting through to where it is needed, including essential relief items like sleeping bags and baby kits.

Unicef, the UN's children's charity, said it was accepting donations to help ensure child health and protection services are sustained and families have clean water and food.

The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, the largest representative body for Ukrainians in the UK, has raised nearly £850,000, which it said would fund immediate emergency and ongoing needs such as medicine and hygiene packs.

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has not yet launched an appeal for Ukraine, although it said it was continuing to monitor the situation closely.

It also directed people towards the British Red Cross, CARE International UK, the International Rescue Committee, and World Vision.

UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said donating money through the Ukrainian Embassy in the UK was one way of helping.

The embassy has set up a special fund called With Ukraine for people to send funds via PayPal or bank transfers.

The embassy said the money will be spent on providing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population and to purchase medical and military supplies for Ukraine's army.

Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have fled the country to neighbouring Poland with little more than they can carry


As well as large organisations, individuals with connections to Ukraine are collecting money independently.

One Ukrainian mother, Inna Schorr, who lives in London, has raised thousands of pounds in just three days.

Ms Schorr told the BBC many of her family and friends are still in Ukraine and her husband has travelled to Poland to help. The family were originally asking for private donations before realising a crowdfunding page would be more effective.

She added that she felt inspired to help the mothers and children by collecting money for activities or support in the refugee camps. "It is as a support from mums to mums," she said.

With all financial contributions online, it is worth making sure you know where your money is going first - double check the organisation is real and is being shared by a trustworthy source.

Clothing and bedding


As well as financial donations, grassroot groups are collecting items to be taken to the frontline, including clothing, bedding, and sanitary items:

*  A family in Staffordshire who launched an appeal for essential items have also told the BBC they have been "inundated" and "overwhelmed" by the response

*  In Northern Ireland, a group of Polish people have organised a collection point at a Belfast warehouse for supplies

*  The Women of Newport community group in Wales has been accepting donations for refugees, asking people to only bring brand new toiletries and clothes or shoes that in good condition.

People intending to make a donation with any community group are advised to check which items are most needed and if they are still accepting donations.

Other ways to support


Some UK businesses have offered support, like chef Damian Wawrzyniak, who wrote on Twitter that he would pay for work visas and flights of two Ukrainian chefs looking for work in Britain.

Mr Wawrzyniak also said he could help with accommodation.

Currently temporary visa concessions for the family members of British nationals have been introduced.

Labour has said the failure to further relax visa restrictions is "immoral".

The Refugee Council told the BBC people living in the UK can help by volunteering with its organisation to support refugees and people seeking asylum and supporting its call on the government to "create more safe routes".

The UNHCR, meanwhile, has urged the government to automatically extend the visas of all Ukrainians with limited leave to remain in the UK.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's official spokesman said: "We think the best way we can help Ukraine right now is by ensuring Putin fails.

"There are a number of ways Brits can show their support for that, and the Ukrainian embassy in London is putting out information about how British people can support."

It was not immediately clear what information, other than its crowdfunding page, had been published by the Ukrainian embassy.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×