Brits have now donated more than £100 million to a fundraising campaign providing aid to refugees fleeing Ukraine.
With the conflict continuing to rise and as the Russian invasion of Ukraine said to be “turning lives upside down”, a group of 15 UK charities last week launched a government-backed fundraising appeal – known as the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) – to club their efforts together to provide aid to those fleeing what is being described as one of the most “heartbreaking” situations the charities have “ever seen”.
The impressive £100 million total – which has been accumulated over four days since the launch of the appeal – is said to include “generous” donations from the Queen, the Prince of Wales, and the Duke of Cambridge, as well as hundreds of thousands of members of the British public.
The amount raised is equivalent to more than £1 million per hour.
The DEC said the funds are already being used by charities in Ukraine and at its borders to give people food, water, medical assistance, protection and trauma care.
The British public has helped raise £100 million in just four days to support the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal – the equivalent of more than £1 million an hour!
The DEC said the funds are already being used by charities in Ukraine and at its borders to give people food, water, medical assistance, protection and trauma care.
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“This amazing show of support for people fleeing the conflict has meant that we have been able to start spending money straight away to help more people,” said Jo Kitterick, head of supporter engagement at the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development – which is one of the charities involved in the committee.
“I want to thank everyone who has donated to help us support them in their moment of greatest need,” she added.
Ms Kitterick said the charities part of the committee are currently setting up safe centres with beds, food and washing facilities inside Ukraine and on its borders.
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Transport, information, psychological support, and child-friendly spaces are also being provided.
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) was set up amid growing concern for civilian welfare following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine after it was estimated that up to four million people could flee Ukraine due to the conflict.
Brits have now donated more than £100 million to the DEC providing aid to refugees fleeing Ukraine / Credit: DEC (via Twitter)
The DEC said that people fleeing Ukraine are in desperate need of food, water, medical assistance and protection.
Many refugees are being forced into hiding to stay safe.
“The majority crossing the borders are women and children arriving with only what they can carry,” the DEC added.
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Giving an insight into the current situation from the perspective of someone on the ground, Andrew Morley – chief executive of World Vision International, who has recently returned from Siret on the Romanian border – explained: “We support children in countless crises across the world, including those I have recently visited such as Syria and the DRC, but I have never seen a more heartbreaking situation.
“All the children I met were crossing the border in tears, with pain and fear in their eyes.
“They were lost and scared.
“They need the basics, simple, practical help [and while] our staff have been present in this area for decades and there on the ground to deliver it, we need financial support to do this.”
The DEC said that people fleeing Ukraine are in desperate need of food, water, medical assistance and protection / Credit: DEC (via Twitter)
The DEC’s 15 member charities are – Action Against Hunger, ActionAid UK, Age International, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide UK, International Rescue Committee UK, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Oxfam GB, Plan International UK, Save the Children UK, Tearfund, and World Vision UK.
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Appeals for public donations to the committee are currently being broadcast on various UK news channels, with every pound donated by the British public set to be matched by the government up to the value of £20 million.
The DEC has stressed that monetary donations are needed as opposed to specific items, which are often challenging to transport and not always relevant.
You can find more information and donate via the DEC here.
A Manchester barbershop is offering a ‘pay what you can’ service this month
Danny Jones
Amidst the tidal wave of January deals on food and drink in Manchester, a local barbers is championing their own ‘pay what you can’ offer to help people along this month.
Jefe’s Barbershop, located in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter, is one of the best barbers in the city centre, offering a wide variety of cuts and facial hair grooming services – they even offer a subscription service that helps people save money on regular trims.
That being said, they are well aware of those January blues and the mounting obstacles and anxieties that come with weeks of penny-pinching to make it to month’s end, as well as the general toll it can take on people’s mental health.
So this January, Jefe and his team are doing something different – as he puts it, “something special”: the barbershop is allowing customers to simply pay what they feel comfortable handing over and, in the case of those struggling, whatever they can afford.
It’s a simple gesture with a big purpose which helps ensure no one has to miss out on a feel-good moment or the confidence that comes from a fresh trim.
“All we do is laugh and joke about life—that’s why people come here,” Jefe explains. “I don’t want anyone to lose the chance to be present, to feel good, and to laugh with us.
“Men often need more help than they’re willing to let on and we want to be a helping hand they can rely on.” Now that’s a cause all of us can and should get behind.
Community support has remained at the core of Jefe’s Barbershop since the beginning when he swapped a basketball career for providing a much-needed service to Mancunian men.
From partnering with Manc sandwich shops and offering free haircuts for the homeless, to hosting street parties with local events companies and providing £5 trims to promote men’s mental health in 2023 when the cost of living crisis really kicked in – Jefe’s is always trying to make a difference in the area.
You’ve got to love businesses that go the extra mile.
If you want to make the most of this wholesome deal or just feel like you’re in need of a trim, you can book HERE or call them directly on 0161 818 7659.
The ‘pay what you can’ offer runs Monday to Thursday, 9am-7pm, subject to availability. You’ll find Jefe’s Barbershop on Stevenson Square
Because as the man himself puts it, “Everyone deserves to feel their best”.
Police appeal for witnesses after possible attempted kidnap of 11-year-old girl in Irlam
Emily Sergeant
An appeal for information and witnesses has been issued following the possible attempted kidnap of an 11-year-old girl in Irlam.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that at around 8:30am yesterday (14 January 2025), the young girl – who was walking to school at the time – reported being approached by a male and female on Silver Street in Irlam, close to the junction of Cutnook Lane.
It is believed the pair had been driving in the area in a car and a van, according to police.
The two then grabbed hold of the girl, before she was able to run away and later inform an adult of what had happened.
The male the police are hoping to gain information on is described as white, approximately 5ft 9 inches tall, with short dark hair and clean-shaven, and he was wearing blue jeans and a black hoodie at the time, while the female is described as white, and was wearing leggings and a black hoodie.
The car is described as a black four-door vehicle, while the van was small, white, and new-looking and with a sliding door.
#APPEAL | Detectives are appealing for information after a girl was approached and grabbed in Salford.
At around 8.30am today, an 11-year-old girl walking to school reported being approached by a male and female on Silver Street, Irlam.
In the interest of public safety while police are currently investigating the incident, extra officers have been deployed to the local area for reassurance as their enquiries continue, GMP has confirmed.
Appealing to the public, officers are also asking anyone who lives in the area to check for any relevant dashcam, CCTV, or doorbell footage from around the time of the incident, and anyone who may have witnessed anything suspicious is also asked to contact police.
“This is of course a concerning and distressing incident and I would like to reassure the community that we are doing all we can to investigate the circumstances,” explained Detective Inspector Justin Bryant, from GMP’s Salford district.
“We are keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed something or has footage from around the time of the incident, and we would urge anyone with any information to please get in touch, as your assistance could be greatly beneficial to our work.
“We are ensuring that the girl and the family are being kept-up-to date and supported at this time.”
Information can be passed on to 101 or via the GMP Live Chat service at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 1205 of 14/01/25, or alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Emily Sergeant -
7th March 2022 
