This article was first published by the New Milton Advertiser & Lymington Times.
A Lymington museum is preparing to become a community hub for Ukrainian refugees and their hosts.
The team at St Barbe Museum and Art Galllery will join forces with local translators, schools, counselling services and food banks to become a focal point for families fleeing the war.
St Barbe chair Sir John de Trafford said: “We have all seen the horrific pictures of the war and many people in Lymington have rooms to spare and would like to do all they can to help. However, the process can be quite daunting both for those people arriving and for the hosts that are welcoming them.
“We will be working with local partners, particularly New Forest District Council, but also schools, voluntary groups and churches to build a network of support to give Ukrainian families practical help as well as a warm welcome.”
Volunteer coordinators Jerry Weber and Lauren Hubbard are logging offers of assistance ranging from bicycles and laptops to interpreters and transport.
Jerry said: “We encourage potential hosts to contact us so we can help with the process of welcoming refugees.”
Wider community efforts to support refugees arriving in Poland have continued as volunteers from Priestlands School recently travelled to the border town of Sanok to distribute medical kits, sleeping bags, school equipment and clothing.
Spokesperson Ben Williams said: “We handed over the school kit in Sanok and took the other items to two refugee centres, one in Fredropol and the other in Lesko.
“In both places we were able to use some of the £12,000 raised from the JustGiving page and other private donations to buy necessities such as swimming kits, enabling Ukrainian children to join PE lessons, and storage boxes to organise donated goods.
“In Przemśyl, one of the busiest crossing points on the border, we got in touch with the main reception centre which is a converted warehouse which has had up to 2,000 people sleeping there at any one time.
“They were in need of tinned food which didn’t require heating, so we were able to buy pallet loads of tins.”
Christchurch Rotary Club donated £2,000 to a sister club in Poland to buy shoes and medication for children arriving from Ukraine. Further fundraising is planned with a Christchurch street collection on Monday.
South Central Ambulance Service collected decommissioned supplies and equipment from across Hampshire to supply field hospitals in Ukraine keeping badly wounded soldiers alive until they receive hospital treatment.
A fundraiser will take place at Milford Community Centre on Saturday to support the Disasters Emergency Committee. The event from 10am-2pm will feature live music, children’s activities, a cake sale and refreshments.
To get in touch with the St Barbe hub has set up an email address for all enquiries, offers accommodation or other support to arriving Ukrainians. To get in touch email ukraine@stbarbe-museum.org.uk
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