We’ve all watched and felt helpless as events unfold in Ukraine, we pray for those fleeing and those left behind. But what can we do as a community?

In the last 10 days we have seen the atrocities of war in high definition, on a daily basis. Bombings, military convoys, politicians calling for peace. But of all the footage coming out of the Ukraine, one particular video has stayed with me.

It is a short clip of a father embracing his wife and child as he sends them off in search of safety, while he remains behind to defend his nation; trying to comfort his daughter, knowing he may never see his family again.

I found this clip so powerful because it made me think, this could be me… how would I feel if I had to leave my wife and young children behind (I have a son who is 6 and daughter who is 3). What choices would I make when faced with the horror of war?

This war has made the experiences of refugees all the more real to us, yet around the world right now there are many other conflicts raging – Syria, Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Yemen; most of which don’t make the news these days.

The plight of Ukrainians is at the forefront of our minds, and rightly so, as they are suffering unimaginable trauma and violence from Russian forces. We can feel helpless in the face of such brutality, but there are things we can do, both as individuals and as communities.

At Upbeat Communities, we are preparing for what the arrival of Ukrainians in Derby (and the surrounding regions) may mean for us. We have been supporting the resettlement of Afghan and Syrian refugees for the last 5 years, and have the experience and skills to be able to support those arriving from the Ukraine. At time of writing, we are also awaiting further details as to what the Government’s recently announced sponsorship scheme, where communities, businesses and local authorities can welcome refugee families from the Ukraine, and how we can support with those who wish to act as sponsors.

I would encourage you to think about whether your community (whether that is friends, neighbours or your faith community) may be willing to consider the sponsorship of a Ukrainian family.

As soon as we know more about the scheme, we will communicate this with our supporters. In the meantime, you can sign up here to register your interest as a potential sponsor with Sanctuary Foundation.

As individuals we can also help. We will share more about how you can support through Upbeat in the coming days but for now, the most effective way to do this is by making a financial donation towards the work of charities working in and on the borders of the Ukraine. I would suggest either contributing to the DEC appeal or the GoFundMe campaign set up by the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain.

I regularly think about this young family, ripped apart by this brutal war. Did his wife and child make it out of the country? Is he still defending his land from the Russian onslaught? I suspect I will never know, but I hope and pray for their safety, and for the future of Ukraine and its people.

— Andrew Jackson, Chief Executive

If you’d like to stay in the loop as we communicate updates about the government’s sponsorship scheme, sign up to our mailing list here: upbeatcommunities.org/supporter-signup

Chief Executive Andrew Jackson Reflects on the Heart-Breaking Images from Ukraine