Day for Ukraine

St Peter’s organised a Day for Ukraine on Wednesday 23 March, with staff and pupils of all ages wearing the colours of the Ukrainian flag. The school community organised a non-uniform day to raise funds for those displaced by the conflict. Each pupil donated £1, and with additional parental donations over £2500 was raised.

St Peter’s also collected essential items including blankets, toiletries, first aid kits, nappies and baby milk formula to be transported to Ukrainian refugees to provide practical help where it was most needed.

Head Master Jeremy Walker said: “The whole school community has come together in solidarity and support for the people of Ukraine. The response from everyone here – from the youngest pupils to the oldest, parents, staff and alumni – comes straight from the heart, and we hope and pray for a peaceful resolution.”

St Peter’s raises £12k for Ukrainian Minibuses: our thanks to the drivers

At the start of the Ukrainian conflict, St Peter’s School community decided that all fundraising in Chapel should be given to the Red Cross to assist its work in Ukraine and to local charities taking supplies out to those who have been displaced by the conflict.

St Peter’s raised over £12,000 by the end of April and purchased three minibuses for Canoe for Ukraine, a York-based charity run by inspirational Stevie Pep which has been supporting people on the Polish border and helping those who wish to leave Ukraine. The buses were purchased, kitted out in the company’s garage, and then filled with goods before being sent out. The original appeal was to raise £4000 to buy one minibus which was achieved within 72 hours. In mid-May, the drivers from Canoe for Ukraine came into school and loaded up the buses with donations of items such as nappies, baby milk formula, toiletries, medical kits and warm blankets. Pupils gathered to wave the buses off and the three minibuses left for Poland and Ukraine.

Reverend Daniel Jones, who coordinated the appeal, said: “I express my deepest thanks to those who took the time to drive out to Ukraine on our behalf: it was fantastic to see the three minibuses that we bought made it safely to the border and are now being used to save lives. I also want to thank all of you who contributed to our collections and made St Peter’s part of something so important. The convoy is now safely back in Britain, minus the minibuses, which have been left out in Ukraine to continue their important work.”

When Stevie and the team from Canoe for Ukraine arrived in Przemyśl they shared this story: “We witnessed the desperate need for food aid and clothes in the small town of Czeladź. It was an immense privilege to be able to help a mother and her family who came to the centre to fill their bags with simple life-saving foods. Watching and helping her go through the boxes of clothes to find specific items was heartbreaking, yet at the same time inspiring, as she showed such strength of character.

“It just goes to show how important our fundraising campaign has been and a humbling reminder that sometimes you can do much to help if you act quickly.”