Continued Support for Ukrainian Families

Since February 2022, with the devastating news that Russia had advanced its invasion into Ukraine, the Caterham School Community has swung behind local efforts to welcome our new Ukrainian families. 

We have seen Caterham parents open their homes and lives as host families, the Caterham School Bakers have provided amazing homemade cakes for 25 Ukrainian support coffee mornings, people have donated their time, money, toys and preloved clothes to two Ukrainian Giving Days, attended by over 200 local Ukrainians and their children.  

We have also fulfilled specific requests for needed items which have been sent by Caterham parents from all over Surrey and the surrounding areas, we have even had packages delivered from Caterham school parents in China.  

The PA charity Sal’s Shoes have donated nearly 400 pairs of new and preloved shoes for women and children – with a specific focus on school shoes meaning that local Ukrainian children could start school in shoes that were appropriate, fitted well and were comfortable.  

The outpouring of help and support has been amazing and heart-warming to see and be part of. But sadly, the need continues.  

Out next project is the Ukrainian Christmas Present Appeal. We are asking people to buy and donate gifts for Ukrainian women and children who live locally. It will culminate in a gift giving day on 10 December. Families will get to come and choose their gifts, drop into our free tea and cake cafe (cakes courtesy of the Caterham Bakers) and have their gifts wrapped – whilst their children are occupied in our play area.  

If you would like to donate to this cause. You can click here to choose a gift from our Amazon list and it will be delivered straight to Louisa Dreja – who is coordinating. Every item will go directly to a Ukrainian family in need.  

We appreciate this is a very busy time of year for charitable requests, but please do consider this cause if you can. All events and projects are 100 per cent run by volunteers and every gift donated will go directly to a local Ukrainian family.  

For further updates please join the Ukrainian Support Group on Classlist. 

Thank you.

Louisa Dreja 

Ukrainian Support Group Coordinator and Caterham School Parent