We’re working with Ukrainian partner organisations on the ground to support vulnerable communities, including children and adults with disabilities. Find out more, and help us to buy 200 wheelchairs to facilitate urgent evacuations, here.

As an organisation and as individuals, we at Legacy of War Foundation have a long relationship with Ukraine. We've compiled this resource with the help of friends and partners on the ground to help you direct your time, energy and funds in the most effective ways possible.

With events unfolding rapidly in Ukraine, it is not enough for us to simply lament this invasion and offer thoughts or prayers to those caught up in this conflict. As global citizens, we all have the power to help bring this appalling violation of international law to a swift end.

We will be updating this post with more information. If you have any recommendations for organisations, journalists or other resources, we would love to amplify them - DM us on Instagram @legacyofwarfoundation.

1. Stay informed

Misinformation is being weaponised. Follow journalists and independent media on the ground, and take the time to learn more about the history of Ukraine.

Nataliya Gumenyuk (@ngumenyuk) - Maksym Eristavi (@maximeristavi) - Olga Rudenko (@olya_rudenko) - Olga Tokariuk (@olgatokariuk) - Katerina Sergatskova (@ksergatskova) - Oleksiy Sorokin (@mrsorokaa) - Polina Ivanova (@polinaivanovva) - The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent) - Sara Cincurova (@sara_cincurova) - The New Voice of Ukraine (@newvoiceukraine)

Neiman Lab have a helpful list of news resources from journalists, as well as advice around fact-checking and disinformation.

For context and background, try: Ukraine - Could There Be War? (BBC Radio 4), Stop Asking What Putin Wants and Start Asking What Ukrainians Want (Atlantic Council), Ukraine invasion - explained (NPR), Understanding Ukraine’s Contested History - And Why It Matter (The Week), Wait, Is Russia Going to Invade Ukraine (ABC Radio Aus) Ukraine and Russia explained in maps and graphs (Al Jazeera), The Earth Is As Blue As An Orange (via FB), Winter on Fire (Netflix).

2. Donate

Grassroots and local organisations are already supporting Ukrainians who have been forced to flee their homes, and they urgently need funds. We oppose military intervention as a tool in foreign policy, so the organisations we’re linking to here offer solely humanitarian support.

Восток SOS / Vostok SOS are a Ukrainian NGO who offer humanitarian and psychological support to people displaced by conflict, and promote human rights. They are providing up-to-date advice to Ukrainians affect by the violence via online channels and a hotline, and have teams on the ground to coordinate aid.

Fight for Right support people with disabilities to remain in Ukraine, including a hotline to offer emergency advice. 2.7m Ukrainians with disabilities have faced difficult or impossible evacuation conitions, and FFR have noted that the support available from major agencies is frequently inaccessible: people with disabilities are literally being left behind. Follow Yuliia Sachuk, Head of FFR, for more information.

Кожен Може / Everybody Can support vulnerable communities, including children with disabilities and the elderly, while working to strengthen the voluntary sector in Ukraine. Their website and donation page are only available in Ukrainian.

100% of the profits from the launch of our brand new No More War t-shirts (featuring designs by the legendary Jamie Reid) will go to Vostok SOS, Fight for Right and Everybody Can. Join us as we demand #NoMoreWar.

People in Need are a Czech humanitarian organisation who share our values of freedom, dignity and solidarity. They are already operating in Ukraine, and you can donate specifically to their work in the country.

Voices of Children are a Ukrainian charity which supports children and young people affected by conflict. They provide vital psychosocial help to help young people recover from the trauma of war, and work extensively in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine Red Cross are providing food, necessities and medical care within Ukraine, and are also helping to evacuate civilians.

Refugee support organisations in neighbouring countries are under immense pressure. In many places, including the UK, well-intentioned appeals have sprung up for donated clothing and supplies which are intended for transport to Poland and Moldova - however, it’s worth being aware that in previous humanitarian crises, many donations like these unfortunately never actually reached their intended recipients. The Disasters Emergency Committee have urgently reiterated the need for funds rather than physical donations, and supply on certain items is already far outstripping what’s actually needed. People who are already working on the ground know exactly what aid they need - donating funds allows them to effectively meet and manage demand.

Polish Humanitarian Action are working with other local organisations to distribute food, hot drinks, hygiene products, diapers and blankets at the border.

Ocalenie Foundation have been supporting refugees and migrants in Poland since 2000. As well as operating language classes and helping with integration, they are also continuing to assist at the Polish-Belarusian border, where refugees from outside of Europe continue to experience a humanitarian crisis and appalling conditions with no end in sight.

Some international donors are having issues sending funds to Ukraine-based organisations. The links below are for international or US-registered organisations, who are either providing direct support in Ukraine or funding activities on the ground.

Ukraine Humanitarian Fund is managed by the UN, and passes funds on to partner organisations working in Ukraine.

United Help Ukraine are a US-registered non-profit who raise awareness and fundraise in the US, and distribute funds and necessities to those affected by the conflict in eastern Ukraine. They accept donations via Paypal.

Razom are a US-registered non-profit who increase civic engagement in Ukraine. They are part of a joint emergency response fundraising via Facebook to provide medical training and emergency support in Ukraine.

UA Hospitals are fundraising to supply medical necessities to hospitals around Ukraine.

3. Contact your representatives

Now that sanctions and economic measures are coming into force, it’s important for us to consider the next phases of this crisis. Email your representatives today demanding a coherent, comprehensive policy on accepting Ukrainian refugees and providing longterm humanitarian support.

Millions in Ukraine have already been forced to leave their homes for safety, but this burden cannot be carried by Ukraine’s neighbours alone. Our politicians must ensure that displaced Ukrainians are able to access food, medicine and safe housing wherever they are settled - things many of us take for granted.

Vulnerable communities are facing particular difficulties around evacuation and border crossings. Fight for Right, who have been supporting evacuations for the 2.7m Ukrainians with disabilities, have noted that the support available from major agencies is frequently inaccessible: people with disabilities are literally being left behind. Follow Yuliia Sachuk, Head of FFR, for more information.

All of these issues demand our attention and voice, and political pressure (both on states themselves, and on international agencies) could make a significant difference to the people whose lives they are affecting right now. We must ensure that everyone who wishes to leave Ukraine can do so safely. Alert your representatives now and ask what they will do to drive real change for vulnerable communities.

4. Protest

Make your voice heard by joining demonstrations in solidarity with Ukraine. Look out for peace protests in your area, or organise your own and let us know about it. We'll be sharing information about protests happening around the world via Instagram. You can also find out about protests local to you on this list.

We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. Take as many of these actions as possible, share the post on Facebook and Instagram, and join us in our call for No More War today.

Last month, we received an email from 10 year old Lara from Brighton. Lara had heard about Legacy of War Foundation’s recent visit to Goma in the DR Congo, and about the young people we met in an orphanage there. She was worried to hear about food shortages they are experiencing, and the lack of access to leisure and sporting facilities - both longstanding problems which have been exacerbated by COVID-19. So Lara decided to do something about it.

An avid dancer, Lara created #Handstands4Goma and challenged her friends and family to join or sponsor her, raising 10p for every handstand they did on Sundays throughout April. They have raised a phenomenal £1538 so far, which will go towards purchasing chickens, tools and seeds for the orphanage in Goma so that the young people there have food for years to come. We are also hoping to invest in some sports equipment because, just like Lara, we believe that young people everywhere should have the space to play and exercise. You can find out more in Lara’s interview with our CEO & Founder Giles Duley here.

We are seeking to build a community of people worldwide who, like us, want to create real change. We know that many people are interested in volunteering with us, and we are excited to make that happen as COVID restrictions ease in the coming months. In the meantime - inspired by Lara - here are some other ways you can get involved with Legacy of War Foundation at home.

Set your own challenge

We are registered with Facebook Giving, PayPal Giving Fund and GoFundMe. Anyone can set up birthday fundraisers, sponsored events and more through these platforms to help support Legacy of War Foundation. Whether it’s just for you or, like 10 year old Lara who started #Handstands4Goma, you want others to get involved, your creativity is the only limit!

We do our best to ensure that every penny you donate goes to creating real change - not paying platform fees. As a result we avoid platforms which charge charities to be listed. We’d recommend using Facebook Giving (who cover payment fees themselves so 100% of donations go to charities), or GoFundMe and PayPal Giving (who both take a smaller percentage of fees)!

Go the distance

Action Challenge organise amazing outdoor challenges around the world. From super-tough Ultra Challenges to virtual events, you and your friends or colleagues can take part in an unforgettable adventure and fundraise for Legacy of War Foundation at the same time.

Thanks to Oskar, who will be completing the Isle of Wight Challenge next month for Legacy of War Foundation, for introducing us to Action Challenge!

Get walking

At the beginning of March, Vanessa in Hastings began walking 10000 steps a day to raise money to help refugees - and saw some beautiful sights, like the sunset above, in the process! What was originally going to last 30 days has now expanded into an incredible year-long event for anyone to get involved in. You can set your own pace and keep friends and family updated via Strava. 

Join the #March2March team or donate via their Virgin Giving page.

Donate clothes

We may not have charity shops, but you can still raise money by donating used clothing with Thrift. Thrift sell donated clothes through online platforms to raise money for charities. You can choose to split any profits with Legacy of War Foundation, or even donate the full amount to us.

It’s worth knowing that Thrift take a fee to cover their costs: for us to receive a donation, items need to sell for more than £5. If you’ve got bits and bobs that are in a good condition but might not hit that price, consider donating them to elsewhere - try The Free Shop Lebanon who will get them directly to refugees!

While you shop

If you’re an avid online shopper, there are a number of ways you can give without spending extra cash. We are now registered with EasyFundraising and Give As You Live, so you can support us while shopping with online retailers like Argos, John Lewis and Amazon. The donation comes from the retailer, so you won’t be charged any extra.

To use EasyFundraising, please head here to register. You’ll need to navigate through their website every time you shop, so you might want to bookmark the webpage.

You can select us as your preferred Give As You Live charity here. Then every time you shop, and we’ll get a small donation with every purchase.

There is no such thing as too small a gift, and these donations really do add up for us - especially around Christmas!