The group Help from Bournemouth to Ukraine has received generous support from local people since it was set up in late February. Thousands of donations of essential goods have been donated and the group has begun delivering them to people forced to flee from Ukraine to Poland to escape the war.

Over 1,000 people have volunteered to donate, organise, and pack supplies, ready to be sent in lorries to organiser Karol Swiacki’s contacts in Poland and distributed directly to those most in need. The main cost so far has been transporting the lorries across the continent, which has relied on fundraising and financial donations.

Now the group has been offered free ferry travel for lorries carrying the group’s donations by ferry operator Stena Line.

Karol said: “I have been blown away by the support we’ve received over the past few weeks, and this most recent offer of help from a huge company like Stena Line is truly fantastic. We have lorries heading over the seas several times a week, packed full of supplies for people who have left everything behind to escape this awful war. By offering free travel to our lorry drivers, and even a cabin for them to sleep in, Stena Line is helping us to send even more donations where they’re needed most. We are so grateful.

“Every donation, every pound, every lorry we can send makes a huge difference for the people who have been forced to flee from this war. With the support of people across our local area and beyond, we’ve already done a lot, but there’s still more to do. Together we can show the Ukrainian people we’re here for them.”

PR and communications manager at Stena Line, Simon Palmer, said: “As soon as the war broke out, we made a decision that we would offer free transport for humanitarian aid to Poland, and free travel for Ukrainian refugees. When we heard about what Karol from Help from Bournemouth to Ukraine was doing, we wanted to help in any way we could. If, by offering free transportation we can help free up funds for more supplies, it’s definitely something worth doing.”

If you’d like to volunteer your time to help organise items, or donate items please visit https://timecounts.org/bournemouth  – these pages are updated daily with the latest help and items that are required.

To donate money, visit the crowdfunding page https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/bournemouth-to-ukraine