A COMMUNITY charity organisation has helped provide funding to seven Ukrainian families who have recently arrived in Cumbria.
The helping hand has been issued through Cumbria Community Foundation's Welcome Fund, a support network established in 2017 to help refugees and asylum seekers arriving in Cumbria, of which has now paid out more than £4,000 to help those most in need, with Ukraine families among the most recent beneficiaries.
The Fund brings together donations from individuals and groups in the community, as well as businesses, charitable trusts and other organisations, with the grants being distributed to those who have needs which are not covered by the Government, or to local community groups and partnerships who are helping people settle into their new communities.
One of the Ukrainian families that has already benefited from the Welcome Fund is living in Newton Reigny, near Penrith.
Tanya Mulholland has lived in the UK for 15 years since meeting her husband, David, two decades ago when she was a travel agent in Kyiv, with seven members of her family arriving here in April.
"I am so happy to have them here and safe though there are tears every day for those left behind. We are so grateful to everyone who has donated to the Welcome Fund. It was so easy to fill in the forms and everyone was really helpful," she said.
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Tanya's family has received £1,000 from the Welcome Fund to pay for food and essentials, as well as receiving advice about school and college places for their youngsters here in Cumbria.
"It has been a major help with just basic things, but also has helped my nephew study online so that he can take part in an emergency programme to complete his exams and finish his studies," she said.
Andy Beeforth, chief executive of Cumbria Community Foundation, said: "As well as providing grants to families, the Foundation also funds the work of refugee support groups in Cumbria and we are working with them and other partners to assess the needs of people and families as they arrive in the county."
"We are humbled by the generosity of communities that are supporting this fund and we understand that many Cumbrian families are facing their own challenges as the cost of living increases and that not everyone is in a position to help."
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