TEST Valley Borough Council and its community services partner, Unity, are working to unite local volunteers, hosts and Ukrainian refugees.

They are already in contact with formal and informal groups to plan how to support Ukrainian refugees locally. And they are appealing to others who have done the same to get in touch with Unity so they can identify opportunities to provide additional support and information.

They are also asking people who may be able to volunteer as translators, drivers to take people to local amenities, or have other specific skills, to register with Unity who will be able to coordinate these offers of help locally.

In particular, they are putting a call out to Ukrainian nationals to support refugees while they are settling in.

Unity can be contacted on 0330 4004 116 or email Greg.alexander@unityonline.org.uk

Unity chief executive Terry Bishop said: “We would really love to hear from those who think they might have a particular skill or service to offer so we can look at potentially linking them up with the Ukrainian refugees arriving in the area.

“Our communities are absolutely amazing and we know that there are some fantastic local groups already out there providing assistance. We certainly don’t want to get in the way of that but we are keen for them to get in touch so we can understand if there is anything they need that might help them with the outstanding work they are already doing.”

Cllr Phil North, leader of Test Valley Borough Council, added: “We have all witnessed the utterly unimaginable horrors unfolding in Ukraine in recent weeks and we will do all we can to help those affected.

“We are beginning to see more and more people arriving in the country through the Government’s Ukraine visa schemes and we are working hard to get support in place as quickly as possible. We are incredibly lucky and extremely grateful to have some truly fantastic communities in Test Valley who continue to prove time and again that they are willing to come together to assist those in need. If anyone is able to offer particular skills as an individual, or as a group, then please get in touch with Unity so together we can help to link volunteers with refugees in the local area.”