Brize Norton is a rural West Oxfordshire parish from which the RAF headquarters of Transport Command takes it is name. The parish is located approximately 5 miles south west of Witney, with Minster Lovell to the north, Bampton to the south, the RAF base and the new town of Carterton to the west. The Parish Council meets monthly, on the first Monday of each month in the Village Pavilion. The public are welcome to attend and there is time set aside for members of the public to make representations.
Brize Norton Parish Council – Ukraine
Many villagers have expressed their desire to support those experiencing unimaginable hardship due to the situation in Ukraine. Please see below for websites which offer very helpful information and guidance.
Disasters Emergency Committee has launched a Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal to support DEC charities and their local partners in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries to help provide food, water, shelter and medical assistance. The UK Government will match pound-for-pound up to £20 million donated by the public to this appeal. The Disasters Emergency Committee has urged people to donate money rather than goods if they can to help those affected by the conflict.
The following are considered reputable charities:
International Rescue Committee is raising funds to help provide medical care, emergency food and other critical aid to families affected by conflict. They are working with local partners in Poland and Ukraine, to quickly mobilise resources that will provide lifesaving support to people forced to flee their homes.
British Red Cross is calling for donations to the Disaster Emergency Committee appeal in support of humanitarian aid charities. Currently, the Ukrainian Red Cross Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross, together with fellow Red Cross National Societies in border countries, are working to get vital help to those impacted by this crisis.
Homes for Ukrainians
On 29th March, the government published a welcome guide for Ukrainians, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/welcome-a-guide-for-ukrainians-arriving-in-the-uk guidance on what they need to do before they travel to the UK and what to do after they arrive. A factsheet has also been published that explains how Ukrainians can apply to the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme. The welcome guide includes information on what Ukrainians need to know in the first few days, getting used to life in the UK including how to find a home, access essential public services, healthcare, find work and childcare and education services. It also includes specific information for those arriving on
the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Translations of both documents will be available shortly.
Separately, the government has written to all those who have already expressed an interest in supporting Ukrainians who have been forced to flee their homes. This outlined that individuals who wish to sponsor a named person should get in contact with the Ukrainian person directly and prepare to fill in a visa application with all the required details. For those individuals who do not know anyone to sponsor, they may wish to get in touch with charities, faith groups or local community organisations who are starting to make connections between individuals.
Councils, sponsors and Ukrainians should continue to check the Homes for Ukraine campaign page and frequently asked questions document for further updates.
Homes for Ukraine campaign: https://homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk/
Brize Norton Parish Council Newsletter
Issue 171: Dec 21- Feb 22 Issue 170: Sep – Dec21 Issue 172: Mar – May 22
