UK co-op sector support for Ukraine

News item

Published

1st March 2022

Last updated

3rd March 2022

Topic

Fundraising

Co-operatives UK has been inundated with members wanting to help those affected by the terrible crisis in the Ukraine.

Co-operatives may of course, choose to support in whichever way they feel able to, but the International Working Group, which includes representatives from some of the UK's largest co-operatives, Co-op News and The Co-operative College, met to discuss a joined-up approach.

To provide immediate emergency aid we are recommending donations are sent to the DEC Ukraine appeal as a way of donating quickly to a reputable coalition of charities providing on the ground support.

We’re have established contact with co-op unions in Ukraine and Illia Gorokhovskyi, Chairman of the Board of COOP Ukraine has replied to say, "The sense of justice and the support we feel from co-ops around the world gives us strength, and right now it is the greatest help we need."

The sense of justice and the support we feel from co-ops around the world gives us strength, and right now it is the greatest help we need.

– Illia Gorokhovskyi, Chairman of the Board of COOP Ukraine

We are also in touch with the co-operative networks in Poland, which is expected to accept between 4-8million refugees, so that we can determine what support they need.

"We have been heartened by the show of solidarity from the UK co-op movement and will provide our support through the International Working Group," said Rose Marley, Chair of the International Working Group.

Communication with our Ukrainian and Polish counterparts has been established but as you can imagine this is patchy and it may be a while before we can determine what practical support they need from us. We will continue to keep our members updated as soon as we know more.

– Rose Marley, Chair of the International Working Group

The International Working Group is made up of representatives from Co-op Group, Midcounties Co-op, Central England Co-op, the Worker Co-op Council, Co-op News, Co-op College and Co-operative UK. In recent years the UK co-op sector has collectively donated over £100,000 to provide emergency Covid support to co-operatives in India and nearly 100,000 Australian dollars to help co-operatives rebuild after the Australian wildfires in early 2020.