The Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership (SHAP) came into being shortly after Russian forces invaded Ukraine back in February . Nearly nine months on this small Swindon based organisation has collected sorted boxed and transported over 700 tonnes of aid to those in such desperate need in Ukraine.
SHAP has also helped Ukrainian refugee visitors to the area with housing, finding an NHS dentist , benefit applications, university applications for young adults, school places for children , car insurance, emergency dental and medical treatment and equally importantly friendship and kindness.
On the evening of Friday 4th November SHAP organised a celebration of Ukrainian Culture -with a few English and Welsh offerings thrown in for good measure.
BBC Points West television cameras were on hand to witness the opening of the event -an emotional rendition of the Ukrainian hymn ‘Shche ne wmerla Ukraina” – led by Ukrainian singer Kseniia Iaramych with enthusiastic audience participation -in a packed Ellendune Hall.
During the evening the audience were treated to music, dance, poetry and displays of gymnastics and fencing. Guests included South Swindon MP Sir Robert Buckland and Labour’s South Swindon Prospective Parliamentary candidate Heidi Alexander – and each also had a place on the bill.
Sir Robert, who is Welsh, sang the country’s national anthem, Land of My Fathers, and Heidi delivered a poem, New Day’s Lyric, by Amanda Gorman, which sounds a message of hope and unity in the face of dire challenges.
Decorations at the venue included vases of sunflowers, the symbolic bloom of Ukraine, and some of the Ukrainian children wore sunflower crowns and national dress. There were frequent calls of ‘Slava Ukraini!’ (‘Glory to Ukraine!’)
The evening concluded with an emotional full throated audience led rendition of a classic Ukrainian song ‘Oj u luzi chervona kalyna’
SHAP board member Nataliya Suhoveeva said: “I am overwhelmed by the wonderful support from both the local Wroughton people and our Ukrainian friends . I must thank my Partnership colleagues, Taras Dmytri, Ieva and Mike, the audience, all our wonderful performers and the many volunteers who made the event possible.
Chair of SHAP Mike Bowden added: “Our small but dedicated team will continue our work for as long as there is a need . We have exciting and ambitious plans to organise a similar event in Westminster with additional performances from Parliamentarians so be sure to book yourself onto one of the many coaches to ensure Wroughton is well represented in the audience.
“Although the evening was about so much more than fundraising I am delighted to say that the £750 we did raise will go towards buying portable electricity generators that we will transport to Ukraine in the very near future.”
