Aid trucks depart for Ukraine following record A2 Charities Weekend

Our annual A2 Charities Weekend, organised by Head Girl Esme and Head Boy Spencer, raised funds for United World Schools and Willdoes. In view of the growing humanitarian crisis in the country, they also organised a special fundraising auction for the people of Ukraine. Local and national charities have been working in partnership with Bryanston since the event to ensure the money raised for Ukraine is put to the best possible use at the earliest opportunity.

The fundraising effort has paid for a huge quantity of humanitarian aid. Over 22 tons of medical kit, a huge quantity of tinned food, well over a hundred sleeping bags and blankets, 40,000 nappies and other much-needed supplies as well as a bulk supply of food for refugee welcome centres in Moldova and Slovakia are now heading to Eastern Europe.

Personal messages from Bryanston pupils have also been included in nearly 400 special fun packs for Ukrainian children. Although one lorry was loaded with specialist medical supplies off-site, pupils at the school were able to give the second lorry loaded with humanitarian aid an enthusiastic send-off as both vehicles started their 1,500-mile journey. 

Head of Charities Doc Fearnley commented: “This is the highest ever total raised at this annual event which is a credit to everyone involved.  The money raised will provide a real boost for Esme’s and Spencer’s chosen charities as well as those people in Ukraine who enduring such terrible hardship. With the heartfelt support, generosity and resolve of so many people, the Ukraine Aid mission is a truly collective initiative that will make a very real difference to children and families who have lost everything in this awful conflict.”  

We've been working with the UK-based ‘Hope and Aid Direct’ charity to determine the most appropriate supplies for the people of Ukraine. This partnership has enabled us to act as a local hub for collections from the Blandford Cares charity and maximise the volume of aid to be sent to distribution hubs in the East European country. 

More than 12 pallets of aid were loaded onto the two lorries that are expected to arrive at the Ukrainian border on the 4^th April.