A huge thank you to all those in the Lancaster district who have offered their homes and their compassion to Ukrainian families fleeing from the appalling atrocities taking place in their country.

I had the pleasure of calling in to a new hub in the city centre (down the alley behind Marks and Spencer) which is offering practical and emotional support to all those who have been displaced.

There they can find donations of clothes, toys, and toiletries as well as information about employment opportunities, language classes and social events.

A big thank you to all the retailers and businesses who have pitched in with help and donations as well as Caton and Friends for Ukraine, The Hygiene Bank, The Ripple Effect, Christ Church, Friends of Chernobyl’s Children, Global Link, RAIS, East meets West, The City of Sanctuary, Lancaster and Morecambe College and Lancashire County Council Refugee Resettlement Team.

The hub is open 9-1pm Monday to Saturday and 9-5pm on Fridays and you can get in touch here: lancasterhostingukrainians@gmail.com or through the Facebook page ‘Lancaster Hosting Ukrainians’.