Like so many people around the country, we have been looking for ways to help support young people and their families who have been affected by the recent events in Ukraine. Over the past month young people across Central Notts have been busy supporting the Polish Scout Association by collecting and donating essential items to be sent over to those who are in need of it.
Shortly after publishing our last issue of the Central Notts Newsletter, the District Team were made aware of a Ukraine Crisis Appeal being run by the Midlands District of the Polish Scouting Association. Following some conversations with their District Commissioner, the Media and Comms team emailed all Leaders with some details, and what a response there was to the appeal.
Within a couple of days, Scout Groups across the District had set up local collection points at their HQ’s for young people to drop off their donations. One such drop off point was at 1st Farnsfield, who started the evening with an empty donation box at the beginning of Beavers, and by the end of Scouts on the same night was overflowing with a staggering total of 28 bags of Donations! This was a similar story at other Groups across the District, with Groups such as 1st Daybrook and Woodthorpe taking 2 car loads to the collection point in time for the first shipment to Ukraine.
After the amazing response from the first round of donations we received an email from Danek, the District Commissioner for the Polish Scouts which read:
"I would like to thank you the tremendous support we have received, and the ongoing support from scout groups in Central Notts."
Over the course of 2 weeks, young people from across Central Notts helped donate hundreds of items. In the first week along over £10,000 worth of items were donated by Scouts which has since been handed out to young people and families displaced by the conflict in Ukraine. We understand that at least two transports had been arranged, one destined for Poland and the other for Lviv.
The fantastic support, by Scouts across Central Notts has been recognised by local media outlets with the Gedling Eve covering the story earlier in the month. To read their coverage, please visit: gedlingeye.co.uk/news/scout-groups-across-gedling-respond-to-call-for-supplies-to-aid-ukrainian-refugees-in-poland/
We would like to thank all of the young people, their parents and the Adult Volunteers from all of the Groups who participated in this appeal, it has been fantastic to see Scouts from all over the District stepping up and living up to their Scout Promise to ‘Think of other People before themselves’. Everyone who has donated an item, no matter how big or how small, should be really proud that they have been able to help so many people in unimaginable circumstances.
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