Mayor: ‘Our Thoughts Are With the People of Ukraine’ – Ukrainian Flag to be Flown

Published on: 4 Mar, 2022
Updated on: 4 Mar, 2022

In her role as civic leader, the Mayor of Guildford, Marsha Moseley, has issued a statement in support of the people of Ukraine.

She said: “We stand with the UK government and its international partners in condemning the Russian government for its unprovoked war against Ukraine.

“We condemn the needless violence we have seen on news reports on the invasion of Ukraine. Our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine, the local Ukrainian community, and those who have been affected, including Russians who do not want the war and have bravely spoken out against it.

Mayor Of Guildford Marsha Moseley

“We have seen bravery and courage from Ukrainian people in response to the invasion. We hope for a speedy return to peace and security and for Ukraine to remain a free and democratic country.”

“We will soon be flying the Ukrainian flag outside our Millmead offices, the Castle and Guildhall in Guildford and lighting up the Castle in yellow and blue to show our support.”

Safe giving

An email has been circulated to all councillors giving an update from the Charity Commission on safe giving to support Ukraine.

The Charity Commission and Fundraising Regulator have urged the public to ‘give safely’ to registered charities helping and supporting those affected by the invasion of Ukraine. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/regulators-urge-safe-giving-to-support-ukraine

Disasters Emergency Committee appeal fund

The Disasters Emergency Committee has set up an emergency appeal fund for Ukraine which is a coalition of 15 leading charities: https://www.dec.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-humanitarian-appeal

Update from Surrey Local Resilience Forum on donations and humanitarian support

We would advise that all UK nationals follow the FCO advice and not to travel to Ukraine for any reason, (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ukraine) and it is not something we should be encouraging or supporting. If the intent is to go to Poland, then again the NGOs in the area are urging that this type of activity is hindering and not helping them in their efforts and although the travel advice to Poland does allow travel.

The NGOs in the eastern NATO/EU states are asked that support is made with donations to the Disaster Emergency Committee Appeal, to allow assistance to be provided directly to those in need. We all want to help those fleeing the conflict and Surrey Residents and Community groups have a long history of imaginative ways to raise money to support good causes and at the moment the needs of the Ukrainian people is one of the most pressing and urgent issues we face.

The donation of goods does involve the time to not only collect them, but also to transport them to the Ukrainian borders and is often not the quickest way to get supplies to those in need.

Update from the Home Office and the DCMS on support for family members of British nationals in Ukraine and Ukrainian nationals in Ukraine and the UK

On March 2 the government updated its page on GOV.UK with guidance about the support available for family members of British nationals in Ukraine, and Ukrainian nationals in Ukraine and the UK. New information has been included to reflect the announcement by the Home Secretary, Rt Hon Priti Patel MP, on 1 March where she set out a bespoke humanitarian support package for Ukrainians in a speech to Parliament.

This includes establishing an expansive Ukrainian Family Scheme so that British nationals and people settled in the UK can bring a wider group of family members to the UK, extending eligibility to parents, grandparents, adult offspring, siblings, and their immediate family members. Those joining family in the UK will be granted leave for an initial period of 12 months. They will be able to work and access public funds.

The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Rt Hon Nadine Dorries MP, also gave a statement to the House of Commons on Ukraine, highlighting that culture and sport can be equally as effective as economic sanctions against the Russian state, if used in the right way.