Ukrainian refugees helped by Essex financial planners

Little Braxted-based Perceptive Planning managing directors Phil Billingham and wife Shannon Currie are hoping to help refugees in Maldova who are struggling with mobility issues.

They previously worked with Thurstable School and hired a van from Herd Hire, based in Tiptree, to donate emergency aid and sleeping bags to refugees.

They are now looking for donations of mobility aids such as old wheelchairs and walking frames.

Phil said they are happy to spend their own money and time, but they are looking for help with information on sources of mobility aids.

He said: “We made the decision to do something in the first week of the invasion in February.

“We hired a van and took a van load of stuff to the border with emergency aid and sleeping bags.

“We worked with Thurstable School and had donations collected by the kids.

“The kids were great, packing up boxes with items including toothbrushes and toothpaste.

“A lot of people have been very generous and donated.”

Any money raised will go to the Maldova For Peace initiative, which assists refugees.

People of all ages, including women and children, are safely in accommodation in Maldova, but many with mobility issues are limited in doing things for themselves.

Phil said: “What we’ve become conscious of is that the refugees who remained in Moldova are the most vulnerable as they’re older and poorer.

“We’re going over on Thursday and were buying the organisation a car so they can have more flexibility with transportation.

“If anyone has a contact for a source of mobility aids, we will come and get them.

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“Some may have been injured or left their equipment as they fled carrying only what they had.

“They’ve been doctors, dentists and teachers. They are ordinary people who have been forced out of their homes.”

To contact Phil about donations of spare aids, email phil@perceptiveplanning.co.uk.