White Horse Rotary Faringdon has been very proactive in responding to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and neighbouring countries. Our main focus has been on supporting the Rotary Fellowship of Healthcare Professionals in responding to the disaster. We have also been building partnerships with local community groups and starting to support the refugee families coming into our communities. Karen has helped us apply for and secure some Rotary Foundation grant funds. We believe we can do more.
This week we are launching our Community Appeal for our WHRF Refugee Support Fund. Our appeal flyer is available for you to download:
We believe that there will be support for this appeal across Faringdon and the surrounding villages. So, we would be grateful if you could make this Flyer “fly” around your family and friends and local community networks, and to those that may like an opportunity to support Ukrainian refugees in our local communities, displaced by the war in their own country.
In more detail…. Ukraine Disaster Response – Community Appeal
The White Horse Rotary Faringdon is supporting those affected by the War in Ukraine. Since April 2022 we have fundraised over £2000. This has been donated directly to the Rotary International Healthcare Professional Appeal as a contribution towards essential medical assistance in Ukraine. In addition, Rotarians have sent £1200 to The Shelterbox Ukraine Crisis Urgent Appeal, and supported local community refugee support networks. Now, we would like to support the Ukrainian Refugee Families who are being hosted in our local communities. In Faringdon and the surrounding villages/countryside there are over 50 Ukrainian refugees, mainly women and children, making up 20 plus families. Already, around 15 Ukrainian refugee students have started attending Faringdon Community College and primary schools in our communities. We forecast that the total number of families in our area is likely to exceed 30. We can expect that refugee families will be hosted by local families for
at least 6 months, and for some much longer.
And Rotary wants to do more ……
Partners
We work alongside community organizations and volunteer groups. Our main partners are: Sanctuary Faringdon and the Shrivenham Refugee Support Network.
Our Rotary Plan for continuing to support Ukrainian Refugee Families includes:
- Education Grants. These grants will help Ukrainian refugee families prepare for attendance at college and schools. Grant funds will contribute towards the purchase of school uniforms, shoes, school bags, sports kit, books, stationery and other essential items. In July we agreed around £1000 towards education grants for 13 students. We plan to support more refugee students in our area.
- Days Away and Networking for Families. Working with our community partners over the Summer we are planning to help fund “Activity Days” to places of interest such as Longleat Safari Park. In addition, Rotary plans to support local networking events for guest families.
Appeal
We are now appealing to communities to consider supporting our Rotary Refugee
Support Fund so that we can continue to assist refugee families over the coming months.
The White Horse Rotary Faringdon wants to stand alongside our guest and host families over
the long term.
Please make cheques payable to: Faringdon and District Rotary Club. Or
donate using BACS to Sort: 20-90-91 Account: 00015377 Reference: Refugee
For more Information please contact:
Glyn James, Community (Clanfield): glyn_james20@hotmail.com M: 07584124656
Bjorn Watson, International (Shrivenham): bjorn.watson@shrivenham.org M: 07973373522
Tim Gerry, Welfare (Faringdon): pinesdweller@gmail.com M: 07544382824
Gordon Hughes (Shrivenham): gordon.yewtree@gmail.com M: 0778821218