Three advisers - Shannon Currie and Phil Billingham of Perceptive Planning, and David Crozier of Navigator Financial Planning - are launching an appeal to collect both finance and disability aids for Ukrainian refugees who have fled to Moldova.
This is the second Ukrainian refugee aid campaign spearheaded by the London and Essex-based advisers, who made two trips to Poland in March and April this year, delivering basic and immediate aid donated by their local communities and financial services networks to refugees.
The advisers were moved to help after witnessing Russia's invasion of Ukraine, watching in "increasing horror as the waves of refugees - mainly women, children and old people - fled the bombs and missiles," said Billingham and Crozier. They gave to charities, but that was "not enough," they said.
Adding: "Since our return from Poland, we have become increasingly concerned with the impact on Moldova - the poorest country in Europe, outside of the EU, and with a long border with Ukraine."
The advisers then identified Refugee Support, an organization which had swiftly set up a "Dignity Centre" in Chisinau, Moldova to help with the sudden arrival of Ukrainian refugees. They donated spare money they had collected, and even visited the centre as well as the umbrella organisation in Moldova, called Moldova for Peace.
Paul Hutchings, co-Founder of Refugees Support, said: "At the heart of the Centre is a Dignity Market where we use a ‘points' system. It means people can choose the free food and hygiene items that they want. Not only do they get essential items they need, but they get some agency over their lives, experience a little normality and receive solidarity from our compassionate volunteers.
"And by buying everything locally we are also supporting the generous Moldovan people.
"We are completely reliant on individuals to fund the supplies and could not continue without the generous support of good people around the world."
The continued war has shifted the type of aid required, said the advisers, moving from "nappies and sleeping bags to long term, sustainable support" including disability aids for the elderly refugees.
As a result, they launched their second campaign, in the hopes of collecting both finance and disability aids which they will ferry by themselves, or ship directly. The advisers will also be using some of the collected funds to purchase a car to help Moldova for Peace, which would reduce their overhead expenses and give them more resources, they said.
In addition, they will be travelling out to offer support which includes ferrying aid around the country, they said, given the limited on-the-ground resources currently available.
To donate to the Financial Planners Ukrainian Refugees Appeal, just click this link.
