The Cumberland building society has given £10,000 to a fund which will help refugees arriving in Cumbria from Ukraine.
“We have all watched in horror as events in Ukraine have unfolded and the desperate scenes of ordinary people fleeing for their lives,” said Claire Deekes, head of retail distribution at The Cumberland’s head office in Kingstown, Carlisle.
“Many people in Cumbria want to help so we have made this donation to the Welcome Fund which will help our local communities to look after them when they arrive.”
Money from the Welcome Fund will be available to Cumbrian communities offering homes to Ukrainian refugees.
Around 130 Cumbrian families have already linked up with Ukrainian refugees to offer accommodation and more are expected soon.
“Once people arrive here, they are going to need help from locals so that they can settle in, make connections, get back on their feet and begin to feel safe and at home,” said Claire. “We are really pleased to be able to help our communities to do this.”
The Welcome Fund is run by Cumbria Community Foundation, the Dovenby-based charity which distributes grants to support people in need. The Welcome Fund is for all refugees in Cumbria not only those from Ukraine.
More than £30,000 was raised in a few days for the Welcome Fund last week as Cumbrians looked for appropriate ways to help Ukrainians forced from their homes.
Andy Beeforth, the foundation’s chief executive, said: “We very much welcome this donation from The Cumberland for the Welcome Fund. Support from
Cumbrian businesses, alongside the generous donations from local people, will make a huge difference.
“We have already had a good response after highlighting the fund last week. It is an established means of supporting refugees in the county and ensures that donations will be used most effectively.”
More than 3.6 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded the country on February 24. Many have escaped artillery bombardment with just a few belongings, and most are women and children, and men and women over the age of 60.
