Mayoral Appeal for Financial Donations for Ukraine

READING Mayor Councillor Rachel Eden has today launched an appeal for financial donations to the Reading Ukrainian Community Centre to help them support people caught up in the conflict.

The Reading Ukrainian Community Centre in Sidmouth Street has been completely overwhelmed with generous donations of food, clothes, medical items and other gifts in kind in recent weeks. Now – following direct discussions with representatives of the Community Centre - Councillor Eden is calling for residents to support the centre with financial donations to help with the costs of sending aid to Ukraine and to prepare them for the arrival of Ukrainian refugees in Reading. The money raised in the Mayoral Appeal will go directly to the Community Centre to enable it to support fellow Ukrainians in any way it can.

People are being invited to give what they can safely and securely at a webpage which has been especially set up for the Mayoral Appeal at http://www.reading.gov.uk/mayorsappeal

Councillor Eden said:

“The empathy and generosity of people in Reading has once again shone through in recent weeks, which is absolutely no surprise to me. I know the Reading Ukrainian Community Centre has been quite taken aback by the sheer scale of physical donations, so much so that they had to temporarily ask people to stop bringing items. Sadly, shipments are also becoming more difficult and dangerous to deliver.

“While many of us have already given to national appeals, such as the Disasters Emergency Committee, I know that many people also want to help locally, which is why I have launched this Mayoral Appeal today. The Ukrainian Community Centre will make best use of these donations and the money will allow them to be flexible in the support they give to Ukrainians who need help. 

“Reading is a City of Sanctuary not only in name, but in our actions. I know Reading will - as we always do - stand ready to welcome people, and I know the Reading Ukrainian Community Centre will be vital in making that happen.

“We are very lucky to have this Community Centre in Reading. I know that household budgets are undeniably stretched at this time, but Reading’s Ukrainian community know that every donation however small will come from the heart, from friends and neighbours. Reading stands with Ukraine, now and in the difficult months to come.”

Council Leader Jason Brock added:

“Reading has always gone above and beyond in providing support for people who are seeking refuge from conflict, and we will go above and beyond again in terms of providing a home, no matter how temporary, for refugees from Ukraine.

“In the short term, the best way Reading can help Ukrainian citizens caught in a conflict is to make a financial donation via the Mayoral Appeal. The money will be put to valuable use by the Reading Ukrainian Community Centre and provide it with some flexibility in terms of providing support in the weeks ahead.”

At a Council meeting next week (Tuesday March 22), Council Leader Councillor Brock will move a motion which recognises the leadership shown by the Reading Ukrainian Community Centre and establishes that, as a City of Sanctuary, Reading has a duty and a moral obligation to provide support to those seeking refuge from conflict.

In the motion, Cllr Brock asks the Council to resolve to:

• Formally condemn the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, in line with United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-11/1.
• Work with the Reading Ukrainian Community Centre and other partners to provide support for those seeking refuge.
• Immediately earmark provision of £25,000 to support voluntary and community organisations working with, and additional Council service requirements for, refugees from the conflict.
• Proactively approach the Government and indicate the Council’s willingness to play a full role in all appropriate schemes for resettling refugees from Ukraine.
• Prepare to support, in additional to national schemes, up to ten families via the Local Sponsorship Scheme, acknowledging that details of the scheme are still forthcoming at the time of writing.
• Reaffirm our commitment as a City of Sanctuary through beginning the application process for ‘Council of Sanctuary’ status.

The full Council agenda can be found at https://democracy.reading.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=4648&x=1

Following a request by Reading’s Ukrainian Community Centre, Reading Council has illuminated Christchurch Bridge in the colours of the Ukrainian national flag as a symbol of Reading’s support for the people of Ukraine and our local Ukrainian community.