Ukraine: how Lymington and the New Forest can help

Jane Porter Locally Last Updated: 20 May 2022 Hits: 686

We can help, a little, at least.

Ukraine: how people in Lymington and the New Forest can help - updated 19 May 2022

If you are organising fundraising events for Ukraine please feel free to add them to our Events Calendar, you'll need to register on the Lymington.com website to get a username and password then add details of your business or organisation, then can log in and add events. For guidance on adding events please read How to Add Events to Lymington.com.

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Things have moved a long way since we first set this page up - and will continue to do so!

Since the initial invasion of Ukraine by President Putin's Russia on 24 February we have continued to compile this page from information we find mainly online in news articles and through our contacts, and are updating it as we receive more information.

If you can see information which needs updating and/or know of other ways in which local people can help which you'd like added to the list please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Can you host a Ukrainian refugee

New Forest Homes for Ukraine

New Forest Homes for Ukraine has been matching refugees to New Forest sponsors since the end of March

Have you registered with the Government’s Home for Ukraine Scheme?

You will not be hearing any more from them because they expect you to find the refugees yourselves!

Free matching service by NFHU

Matches can and have been made on-line, but NFHU has been set up as a CIC (Community Interest Company) to provide a free matching service.

Once matched, hosts and guests can jointly apply for a visa through the Government Scheme. NFHU provides “before and after” arrival advice and support and has collated information from a wide variety of sources, all easily accessible on its website New Forest Homes for Ukraine.

Once the Ukrainian families arrive NFHU aims to support them and their hosts by

collating varied information on its website to help them navigate applying for schooling, healthcare, schooling, benefits
providing activities such as free English classes
providing networking opportunities for both hosts and guests so that they can support each other
partnering with other organisations, community groups and local authorities to ensure to work to plug gaps rather than duplicate others efforts
liaising with a network of organisations including Citizen’s Advice, Basics Foodbank, Baby Basics, and many local community groups and signposting relevant services

Could you host a refugee?

There is a shortage of hosts in the Forest at the moment; New Forest Homes for Ukraine has already matched 74 groups of guests with accommodation in the 6 weeks since beginning operating.

Many people who registered for the Government scheme are completely unaware that they need to identify the Ukrainian family that they will house themselves. This is quite a challenge for most people who have no contacts in Ukraine.

That is where the New Forest Homes for Ukraine free matching service comes in.

It is running public meetings in various local towns and villages over the coming weeks in a bid to encourage more people to register for its free matching service or maybe volunteer to be part of its support activities.

Come to one of NFHU's public meetings to hear about hosting refugees and support activities

Lymington Baptist Church 25 May 7pm
Hythe and Dibden Community Centre 1 June 7pm
Totton and Eling Community Centre ` 7 June 7.30pm
Lyndhurst Community Centre 8 June 7pm
Brockenhurst Village Hall 15 June 7pm

www.newforesthomesforukraine.co.uk

Also:

How to express an interest or register to host a refugee: https://www.gov.uk/register-interest-homes-ukraine

More information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-scheme-frequently-asked-questions (updated 13 April)

Hampshire County Council information section: https://www.hants.gov.uk/ukraine

Guidance for Ukrainian guests: https://www.hants.gov.uk/ukraine/guests - Includes link to welcome packs in English, Ukrainian and Russian
Guidance for sponsors: https://www.hants.gov.uk/ukraine/sponsors - Includes more information to guide sponsors including home checks

St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery in Lymington is now a local hub for Ukrainian refugees and their hosts.

St Barge is joining forces with local translators, schools, counselling services and food banks to become a focal point for families fleeing the war. With New Forest District Council and voluntary groups and services, it is building a network of support to give Ukrainian families practical help as well as a warm welcome.

Please contact the St Barbe hub at this special email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Donations

Direct donations to the British Red Cross

The Red Cross is working on the ground in Ukraine and bordering countries, supplying food, water, medicine, shelter and clothing to those refugees fleeing the fighting, and helping those remaining in Ukraine. www.redcross.org.uk.

To make donations online to the British Red Cross: https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-crisis-appeal

Donations via local businesses and organisations

A number of trusted local businesses are collecting for either the Red Cross or the Salvation Army in their local outlets eg shops and restaurants, and you may find this a convenient way to donate. Look out for their signs and collection boxes!

Physical donations, lorries to Ukraine borders

New Forest for Ukraine

Has been busy setting up collection points and distribution channels to get supplies to the Polish border and into Ukraine. It has had a huge response and already had a number of vans and lorries head out to Poland.

There are two collection/drop off points, one in Brockenhurst (Industrial Heaters - next to the Rainbow chip shop in Brookley Road) and the other in Lymington, at Coffeemongers on Ampress. These then go off to a hub in Southampton where lorries are going out via the Polish community to the Polish border.

Local businesses and people are all getting on board and helping. Coffee Mongers have been great providing warehouse space on Ampress for collections. They also need large cardboard boxes if you have any to recycle. Volunteers also required to help pack.

Website: https://www.newforestforukraine.co.uk/

LATEST UPDATE OF URGENT GOODS REQUIRED : 05.05.22

Crockery, Cutlery, Pots, Kettles - Bedside lamps (euro-plugs) - Washing powder / capsules - Towels - Instant Meals - Shampoo - Hand and Face Creams - Lip Balm - Body Wash - New Flannels or Sponges - Flip Flops - Soaps - Baby Wipes - Wheeled Suitcases/Bags - New Underwear for Women and Children - Disposable cups, plates and bowls - Tea, Coffee, - UHT milk, sugar

Previous information - please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..uk if you're involved in any of the below and would like your information updated.

Lymington - update

Helen H wrote in to tell us about the house at 25 Avenue Road, Lymington which is taking all things for Ukraine
The house is opposite NFDC offices and you can park outside in marked off area
There is a Notice outside on pavement saying they are collecting

Hordle, Ashley, New Milton

As reported in the A&T, Jane Marriner, a volunteer with Lymington Cat and Kitten Rescue, is coordinating local collections of items such as food, clothing and nappies, to be taken to Southampton from where Polish delivery drivers transport them to the Poland/Ukraine border to hand out at refugee camps.

Jane had been using her home in Ashley as a base where people could drop off and Everything Pets in Hordle was providing another drop off point.

Things have ramped up somewhat, Hordle Church has been providing space for sorting, and there's a new Facebook page called Hordle Heroes.

Contact Jane via https://www.facebook.com/HordleHeroes/

Jane has also set up a wish list on Amazon.

Jane is also looking for drivers to volunteer to take the items to Southampton. Please contact her via the Facebook page above.

Sway

From Sway Hearsay Facebook Group Rosie McMillan says: "A friend and I want to send items to the Polish border for the refugees coming from Ukraine, so we are asking for donations of nappies, wetwipes, clothes, non perishable food items, blankets, womens sanitary items, shampoos, body wash, hand wash, hand sanitizer, dog food, cat food, sleeping bags, blankets, gloves, scarfs, socks etc. anything that you can spare! We are doing a large collection in the Southampton area and my mum who is based in Sway is helping us, so please if you can spare anything, please can you drop it to her at 22 Stanford Rise, Sway (if she is not home, please leave items by her door). We have several lorries going over in the next few weeks and we want to be able to send as much as possible to help them. As you are all aware, the situation in Ukraine is critical and Poland has opened its borders to the refugees and they are going to need help and support in these horrible times."

Bournemouth

If you live or travel in the Bournemouth direction, the empty Argos store at Castlepoint has been turned into a well organised collection point for donations being run by a volunteer group Help from Bournemouth to Ukraine. People with donations can drop them off in the main Argos store - through the blue doors - on the top level of Castlepoint between 9am and 5pm daily.