THE POT PLACE LINKS WITH UKRAINE

By Lee Quinn

On 24th February 2022, Russian forces began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Attacking the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and its second-largest city, Kharkiv, some believe it was an attempt to overthrow President Zelensky’s government. But it’s been seen as more of an attempt to occupy and annex the whole country rather than just overthrow the government. It was to subjugate the entire population.

The UK is 94,058.3 mi² and the Ukraine is 233,090 mi²; that is about 2 ½ times the size of the UK. The Ukraine is the largest country in Europe by area (excluding Russia) and produces 30% of the world’s sunflower oil, and is the sixth largest producer of wheat, corn and rapeseed. We have all felt the effects of the invasion.

As of 1st May this year, this war reaches 461 days. As of midApril 2023, it is estimated that over 42,000 people have died, nearly 60,000 people have nonfatal injuries, around 15,000 are missing and around 140,000 buildings have been destroyed. Around 14 million people in the Ukraine have been displaced.

As a sponsor of the Penrith Lions May Day Carnival and as it is a day when local charities come together, I suggested to Kevin and Paul that we present another side of their business, based on voluntary hours here, helping people thousands of miles away, saving lives.

Talking to Paul, he shared with me that with some Ukrainian refugees now settled in Eden and one working at the Pot Place, they've learned more about this situation and wanted to do more to help. Here are just some of the things The Pot Place team and our community have pulled together for the Ukrainian people…

On 19th March 2022, a van set off from their Plumpton site for Rogowo in Poland packed with supplies. The trip was 950 miles. On 7th April, they were off again with a van and trailer full of essential items. On 18th April 2022 a new appeal was launched to raise funds for an Ambulance to replace those destroyed in the bombings.

Within 12 weeks, on 3rd August it was on its way, arriving on 8th August. On 4th September another appeal for an Ambulance and fast response motor bike was launched; the ambulance being delivered to Ukraine on December 13th. In between all this happening, logistics and roads into

Ukraine were becoming more established.

With general aid donations being collected at the Pot Place and transferred to a hub at Thirsk in North Yorkshire, they were then exported to Ukraine.

With better links now in Przemyśl (Sheh-muh-shl) the second-oldest city (after Kraków) in southern Poland, Paul explained the wonders of social media, which without it, none of this could have been achieved (full story in June Eden Local). Christmas 2022 came and went and on 8th January 2023 another appeal was launched. National media has moved on. Updates are not so frequent. The war continues and unity around the world for Ukraine continues.

The new fundraising target is £5,000. Small donations can make a big impact on lives. You can feel proud with a pound!

Donate at the Pot Place or via www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/ambulance-andambulance-bike-for-ukraine