Ukraine: our response

As the University’s Refugee & Asylum Seeker Champion, I would like to take this opportunity to reassure you that the University of Glasgow is doing everything in its power to aid those that are displaced and facing hardship in Ukraine.

Our own student hardship funds are providing immediate support to those students who require financial assistance at this time, and in addition to the University augmenting the hardship funds, I am pleased to announce plans to extend this support and to bolster the funds generally via a dedicated fundraising appeal. We will launch this imminently and be in touch soon with more information on how to contribute to, and share, this campaign. We have also recommitted our pledge to Cara, the Council for At Risk Academics, to provide support to colleagues who are seeking sanctuary.

Donations

In addition, a number of colleagues and students have expressed their desire to organise donations and volunteer action to support the humanitarian response.

Location: Queen Margaret Union, University of Glasgow, 22 University Gardens. G12 8QN

Times: 08.00-10.00 am daily, Monday 7 March – Friday 18 March

Suggested donations

• Paracetamol, ibuprofen
• Non-perishable foods – chocolate bars etc
• Mobile phone charges, power banks
• Thermal underwear
• First aid kits, bandages, plasters, wound dressings
• Energy/protein bars
• Antiseptic
• Sleeping bags
• Wet wipes
• Blankets, hot water bottles
• Nappies – all sizes
• Bottled water
• Toiletries – Soap, shower gel, shampoo,toothpaste, toothbrushes etc
• Baby food – cereals, dried milk, jars of food
• Feminine hygiene products
• Dried food goods – milk, coffee, tea, porridge etc
• Batteries – all sizes
• Tinned food goods

The donations collected will be transported through approved routes via Edinburgh AUGB (Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain). They have an established route through Europe and onto Poland and Ukraine.

Organisers have requested that all boxes and bags be labelled with content information as this will help process donations. And if possible, to donate multipacks rather than individual items. The team are also looking for sturdy boxes, parcel tape, poly pockets etc.

Further information

For further information or how you can volunteer to help, please contact:

• lesia.davidson@glasgow.ac.uk  or
• Peter.Skabara@glasgow.ac.uk

Student hardship funds

Our own hardship funds are providing immediate support to those students who require financial assistance at this time.  The University has taken steps to increase these funds but we still require more if we are able to help all those in crisis.  Please consider making a gift to support our student community.

Make a donation to our student hardship funds

Thank you to everyone in our community for your support of these initiatives, and for your care towards one another, during this difficult time.

Best wishes, Rachel Sandison
Refugee & Asylum Seeker Champion. Vice Principal, External Relations & Deputy Vice Chancellor, External Engagement

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First published: 11 March 2022