Help for Ukraine

Jesus said, ‘I am the Good Shepherd… I know my sheep and my sheep know me.’ John 10.14

We share the horror and dismay of decent human beings in every country at the invasion of Ukraine and the suffering inflicted on its people. We can’t stand by and do nothing, and children and parents have told us that they would like to help raise money to support refugees having to leave their home in Ukraine due to the Russian invasion. So this is what we are doing as our first response:

Fund-raising Day

On Monday 7th March, we will be holding a non-uniform day to raise some money that we can pass on to a refugee charity that will be helping Ukrainian refugees. If your child would like to wear their own clothes for the day, we suggest a minimum £2.00 donation per child. Of course, you are welcome to donate as much as you like/are able to. To show further support to the Ukrainian people it would be great if your child were able to dress in the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag. However, please do not go out of your way to buy something if your child doesn’t already own yellow and/or blue clothing. Our regular uniform colours match the flag well in any case.

We also have Comic Relief on Friday 18th March and have asked for a donation of £2.00 for this day too. If you are unable to support both days, please do not feel you have to. Please just support whichever charity you feel you’d like to.

Collection of items to send to Ukraine

A Ukrainian parent from one of our local Herts & Ware primary schools is arranging for much needed items to be collected and sent to Ukraine. The first load is being sent tomorrow, but further loads will be sent. We will, therefore, also be accepting the following items next week:

• Painkillers e.g. paracetamol and other over the counter meds
• Shampoo, soap bars, toothpaste, toothbrush, Hairbrush
• Pillows and pillow cases, duvets, blankets, towels
• Food with a lasting sell by date
• Batteries, Torches, Candles
• Shoes which are warm covered
• Dry Sanitary products, pads, tampons
• Nappies, wet wipes, baby formula
• Colouring pencils, pens, notebooks and envelopes.

If it’s easier for you, you can also leave items on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th March, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm each day, at St Andrew’s Church, Little Berkhamsted. Everything you donate will go to Ukraine via Poland as soon as possible.

Letter writing to children in Ukraine

Our children will get involved by writing a letter, drawing a picture or writing a poem to children in Ukraine. Teachers will be doing this with their classes on Monday 7th as these need to be collected on Wednesday 9th.

Talking about war, praying about war

We’re doing our best to help children understand and come to terms with what they will hear and see on the news media and, as well as all the practical help, we are keeping all people caught up in the war in our thoughts and prayers.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published a blog providing guidance to teachers and families on how to talk to children and young people about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The guidance covers how to talk about distressing news stories and how to spot inaccurate information. The Children’s Commissioner for England has also published a blog advising that we should not hide what is happening in the Ukraine from children and young people, but support children in understanding it. Meanwhile, Childline has published content to support children and young people who may be worried about the crisis.

Read the DfE blog: Help for teachers and families to talk to pupils about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and how to help them avoid misinformation
Read the Children’s Commissioner blog: We should not hide from children what is happening in Ukraine
Read the Childline content: Worrying about Russia and Ukraine