Buckinghamshire launches its Ukraine Crisis Fund

Buckinghamshire Council and the Heart of Bucks Community Foundation have launched a crisis fund for people fleeing the current conflict in Ukraine.

Henry Allmand, Chief Executive Officer of the Heart of Bucks Community Foundation said: “The situation for those in the Ukraine is perilous and the outlook is challenging. With many families forced to flee their homes and seek safe refuge elsewhere, we are working in close partnership with Buckinghamshire Council to ensure that charitable donations from the generous residents in Buckinghamshire can be used to provide support to the refugees sheltered here in our wonderful county.

Working closely with the Council we are coordinating the collection of financial donations from across our communities to support newly arrived Ukrainian refugees settling in Buckinghamshire. The funds raised from this appeal will support the vulnerable households that have been given shelter in Buckinghamshire from the war in Ukraine.”

Leader of Buckinghamshire Council, Martin Tett, added: “It is heartening to see thousands of people offer to open their homes to a refugee from the current conflict in Ukraine; yet again Buckinghamshire communities display huge generosity in times of crisis.

We know from other refugee programmes how this warm welcome makes all the difference to these extremely vulnerable people fleeing the most horrific circumstances. Many people will not be in a position to open their homes to a Ukrainian family but still want to help in the best way they can. This is why we are supporting the Heart of Bucks Ukraine Crisis Fund as another means of providing support for any arrivals into Buckinghamshire.

We have also formed a local strategic partnership to be in the best possible position across the whole of Buckinghamshire to co-ordinate a strong response to whatever scenario presents. It means we have representatives from across the community, education, health, safeguarding and other services all aligned to support any arrivals as best we can.”

Heart of Bucks will make grants to charities and non-profit community organisations who are supporting the Ukrainian refugees, and in some exceptional circumstances, may make small grants to support Ukrainian households directly, when asked to do so by a Council Sponsor Liaison Officer. All funds raised will be distributed in Buckinghamshire.

For full details and how to pledge your donations visit the Heart of Bucks Total Giving page here: https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/helping-hand-ukraine

If you would like to contact Heart of Bucks about your donation, please email: giving@heartofbucks.org