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WHAT WE DO / HAVE DONE

  • Collect medical equipment from hospitals and health centres round the Highlands and send it to Ukraine. A great deal of this is in conjunction with our friends at the four Rotary clubs in Inverness and Inner Wheel to whom we are incredibly grateful
  • Arranged for a curtain-sided, flat-bed lorry load of aid each month to be shipped from Scotland to Ukraine
  • Collect cash donations to buy medical equipment in Ukraine
  • Opened a centre in Inverness in the first weeks of the invasion where tonnes of donations were collected, sorted, and sent to Ukraine via the Polish Red Cross
  • Set up a support network for Ukrainians arriving in the Highlands, particularly but not exclusively, for those housed in hotels with no hosts to rely upon
  • Obtained grants from MFR’s charity, Cash for Kids, to buy clothes and essential items for children of displaced Ukrainian families now living in Highland
  • Collected thousands of donations of clothes, footwear, toiletries and other necessary items for adults – mostly those in six hotels around the Highlands – but also for adults and children with host families when necessary
  • Source refurbished Chromebooks for every family or child who needs one, with the support of Highland Council and the in-house IT team
  • Source mobile phones and sim cards for Ukrainians
  • Set up a collection scheme to source bikes for Ukrainian adults and children – dozens donated and collection continues as all demand not yet met
  • Established a Crowdfunding page to raise funds for repairs to bikes and to buy safety equipment Crowdfunding to help buy cycle safety equipment for our Bikes for Ukrainians charity scheme on JustGiving
  • Arrange English language conversation classes for Ukrainians
  • Established a collection scheme to source musical instruments for Ukrainian children – numerous guitars, keyboards, violins, flutes etc handed out
  • Collect dried and tinned food to ship to Ukraine
  • Collected generators, blankets and warm bedding to help address the attack on Ukraine’s utilities and infrastructure over the winter months in 2022 and about to begin the same effort again for the approaching winter
  • Send clothing to Ukraine
  • Source furniture for Ukrainians finding rental properties in Highland
  • Lobbied successfully for free bus travel for displaced people to use within Highland
  • Organised and ran a successful candlelit vigil in Highland on the anniversary of the invasion, attended by several hundred people, both Ukrainians and locals and addressed by MP Drew Hendry who reassured Ukrainians of our care and support
  • Attempting to source 4×4 vehicles and used ambulances to send to Ukraine – first of these left Inverness for Ukraine in June and arrived safely on the front line – again thanks to the support of three Inverness Rotary clubs, The Rotrary Club of Inverness, The Rotary Club of Inverness Culloden and The Rotary Club of Inverness Riverside
  • Sourced art and craft materials for Ukrainian children’s projects in hotels, run by Ukrainian mums
  • Provide translations of local useful information, such as where community events are happening; how to make use of employment agencies to find jobs; where free hot meals are available following withdrawal of lunch provision in hotels
  • Plan social occasions for Ukrainians, such as concerts and tours to places of interest
  • Initiated successful discussions with HighLife Highland’s management to allow Ukrainian children to take part in HLH School’s Out programme and all adults to join a budget scheme free of charge to have access to all HLH facilities for a nominal fee
  • Obtaining Press and Media coverage for campaigns and events
  • Arranging with Inverness Rotary clubs to fundraise to send a second 4×4 vehicle asap
  • Arranging for collection points in Highland for emergency supplies to go to flood-hit Kherson region, including at the Highlands largest supermarkets 
  • Interact with Highland Council’s Resettlement Team to support Ukrainians coming to Highland in a number of different ways
  • Interact with Highland Third Sector Interface Refugee Resettlement Officer
  • Work with the Scottish Refugee Council to attempt to improve conditions for Ukrainians in Highland
  • Work with Scotland’s International Development Alliance in drawing up a framework for the Scottish Government for future displaced persons emergencies
  • Work with Rotary International GB and Ireland’s Ukraine Emergency Response unit lead to help with various projects on a national scale and lobby our governments for aspects of Ukrainian aid
  • Opened a hub in the centre of Inverness for use by Ukrainians and as a drop-off and sorting point for the public to donate aid for Ukraine.
  • Run a pop-up shop with new and used items to raise funds for medical supplies for Ukraine.