One week on from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there can hardly be a person in the UK who doesn’t want to help to support the Ukrainians in their fight for their lives and for their self determination. Whether you can donate to a charity, provide essential supplies, petition on line, offer a home for refugees, respond to accurate news or get prepared for the impact of this war on other countries, these actions will help. Putin’s invasion is not just an attack on Ukraine. It is an attack on freedom, truth, democracy and humanity. Don’t be a bystander - This article gives ideas on how ordinary people like you and I can help.
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) The UK government has promised to match donation to DEC pound for pound up to £20 million pounds with their Aid Match scheme. Donate to DEC on their page.
Unicef’s aims are to protect the 7.5 million Ukrainian children, providing water and food, health services and refugee support. They have set up an monthly donation scheme where you can make regular monthly donations, or one off donations. Unicef donate page
The British Red Cross has provided support for humanitarian needs for 150 years: food, water, shelter, warm clothes, medicine, first aid. You can make regular of one off online donations. The British Red Cross donate page
There is also a Ukrainian division of the Red Cross, but the donations are in the Ukrainian hryvnia currency – do check any bank fees if using international payments. The donations provide vital aid, blood, mobilization of volunteers and resources and emergency activities. The Red Cross Ukraine division.
Oxfam, will support the Ukrainians in anyway they can. They are an efficient charity and 91% of any donation is allocated directly for support. Only 9% is retained for administration costs. Oxfam’s appeal page.
United Help Ukraine provides humanitarian aid and medical support. United Help Ukraine’s page. Make monthly or one off donations using Paypal.
Sunflower of Peace provides specialist medical backpacks for soldiers and medics on the frontline. Each backpack can save up to 10 lives. Sunflower of Peace accepts donations through Facebook.
Ukraine Aid provides immediate and direct support: emergency medical supplies, first aid kits, transportation and critical services. Ukraine Aid's donate page.
The Ukraine Humanitarian Fund is one of the UN's country-based pooled funds. Contributions are collected into a single, unearmarked fund and managed locally under UN leadership. As crises evolve, funds are made directly and immediately available to a wide range of partner organizations at the front lines of response. This way, funding reaches the people most in need when they need it. UN CERF Fund's donate page. Donations can be one off, or set up as weekly or monthly.
Help Ukraine delivers support and aid on the front line. Help Ukraine's donate page.
Provides support to refugees with vital aid and services to those still in and fleeing the country, including: emergency medical care, food, shelter, clothes, legal support, support for the LGBTQIA+ community and mental health support. Choose Love's donate page.
Caution: There are many other charities too and you may find some which you prefer to support. But please do be aware, that there individuals out there who will take advantage of your willingness too help. It can be better to only donate to well known charities who are regulated by the Charities Commission rather than appeals which suddenly spring up on Facebook, Instagram and Tik-Tok which may not be genuine. You don’t want your hard earned donations going to Russia or lining the pockets of individuals.
There are a number of national and international petitions underway that will be debated by governments and leaders once a set number of signatures have been raised. Sign one or two, or all of the following:
· (Parliament.uk) Pledge any necessary military support to defend Ukraine – sign here
· (38 degrees) An open letter to Priti Patel: the UK must give safe passage to those fleeing war in Ukraine – sign here
· (Change.org) Tell the UK govt: Help Ukrainian refugees! – sign here
· (Open petition) Ask NATO to close the airspace over Ukraine – sign here
· (Avaaz – worldwide) Stop this war – sign here
Protest Show your solidarity to the UK and the world and make your demands known. Find a local protest
Do an internet search ‘donate locally for Ukraine’ and you will find many drop off points in various shops, churches and community centres. The following supplies are really essential, but check with your donation centre to see what they really need.
Hygiene and menstrual products (We do sell concentrated antimicrobial hemp oil soap)
Medication
Thermal clothing, winter clothing
Shoes and boots
Duvets and sleeping bags
Hot water bottles, thermos flasks
Toothbrushes (We sell toothbrush sticks from £2.00 each or less)
First-aid items such as bandages, pain killers
Pet food
Dried food
Help a local charity to process donated supplies, help with transport, use your skills to help other – find out where the collection points are, who is organising collections and ask how you can help.
Do you have extra space in your home? Free up housing stock and offer a home to a refugee (they could be from any country) with Refugees at home. Many refugees are from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and many other countries suffering war, human rights abuse and environmental catastrophe.
or Room for Refugees
Not only should we bear witness to these atrocities, war can easily spread to surrounding territories and in this conflict where weapons of mass destruction could be deployed, the whole world is in danger.
Check the BBC News
New Voice of Ukraine
The Kviv Independent
Euro News
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera has been reporting on conflicts for many years.
Write to your MP and let them know the ways you would like them to help – they are there to represent you. Find your MP here.
The government has imposed sanctions and global companies are cutting their ties with Russia. You can also take steps to stop funding Russia. Check to make sure your pension does not invest in the Russian economy. Do not procure Russian goods or services at work. Boycott Russian Vodka, caviar, porcelain and glassware. Think before purchasing high tech objects which contain gems such as Russian sapphires (such as Apple Watches).
Yes. Expect internet and communications disruption and hacking. Make sure you have good internet security (not from a Russian owned tech firms) and that you follow good IT security practise. At Natural Spa Supplies a major part of our IT budget is directed toward site and email security to prevent ransoms and hacking. We follow stringent GSDP guidelines too.
Expect continued rise in energy prices.
Possible attacks on the UK, if not now, in the future.
Interruption of supplies, shortages of food (grain) keep up your supplies of food and household staples.
At Natural Spa Supplies, it has been more difficult dealing with supply chains over the last few years, just like other UK businesses. Of course with the attack on Ukraine, the situation isn’t going to improve. Have you considered stocking up on some of our body care and cleaning products which have long shelf lives? Have you considered buying some of our products to donate to the Ukrainian people – just like when you do your supermarket shopping you donate some of your purchases for collection to Food Banks?
Our mineral products have the longest shelf lives, in excess of 2 years –
Rhassoul Clay shampoo and soap replacement – keep it dry.
Alum crystal deodorant block – keep it dry.
Alum crystal powder or alum pebbles to make DIY deodorant, transfer the alum pebbles or alum powder from cellophane or paper packaging into a glass jar with a tight fitting lid.
Green clay toothpaste powder ingredient – transfer into a jar and label it.
Activated charcoal teeth whitening powder – keep it tightly sealed in the jar.
Our powdered and dried products have a minimum shelf life of 1 year- in general keep the packaging tightly sealed and in the dark.
Miswak toothbrush sticks – wrap in a waterproof cover or keep tightly packed. A customer has also said that you can add the sticks to an empty water bottle with a drop of water, replace the lid and keep them in the fridge. Transport the toothbrush sticks in our bamboo toothbrush holder.
Olive toothbrush sticks. Keep tightly wrapped in the greaseproof paper provided.
Our organic soap nuts, which are used as a fully natural laundry detergent and as a rubber glove free washing up liquid, glass and surface cleaner are stable and can be kept in ordinary room conditions.
The naturally antimicrobial hemp oil soap keeps really well in the jar. Officially the shelf life is 1 year, but it keeps and remains active for much longer
Our argan lip balm is very stable. For storage, keep it cool.
We shouldn’t just stand by and watch as Ukraine is destroyed by Russian forces. We are not powerless to help as individuals. We can and should all take action – next time it could be our democracy and liberty at stake. Do please comment below if you have any other ideas.