HETHERSETT SHELTERED SCHEME RESIDENTS DONATE £900 TO RED CROSS TO HELP UKRAINE HUMANITARIAN EFFORT

Residents at a Hethersett sheltered housing scheme have raised £900 towards the Red Cross’s efforts to provide humanitarian support for children and elderly people caught up in the conflict in Ukraine.

The 60 residents at Woodcote in the town, which is run by Broadland Housing Association, came together for a special coffee morning after being moved by the plight of civilians caught up in the fighting.

Two films about the background to the conflict were screened at the event, including one presented by Red Cross workers on the ground in Ukraine.

“Lots of residents had asked what they could do to help after being moved by images of families and elderly people suffering terrible conditions as a result of the conflict,” said scheme manager Steve Baxter.  “Also, one of the carers who works here has a Ukrainian husband, so that has also brought the crisis closer to home.”

Woodcote resident Richard Headicar said, “The suffering of elderly people and children and families caught up in what is going on in Ukraine has tugged on all of our heartstrings.  We all wanted to do what we could to help mitigate their suffering.”

Fellow resident Molly Ellison added, “I have cried every morning when I see what is happening on the television.”

Red Cross teams are working both in Ukraine itself and in neighbouring countries which have seen an influx of refugees, to provide humanitarian aid including food and water, first aid and medicines, warm clothes and shelter.

The charity has distributed over 90,000 food and hygiene parcels and provided food, warm clothes, and other aid to around 7,000 people sheltering in metro stations in Kyiv, as well as delivering first aid training to over 12,000 people taking cover in metro stations and bomb shelters, so they have the skills to treat their loved ones if needed.