BBC Countryfile presenter Matt Baker has brought donations and filmed at New Forest for Ukraine for the second time.
The show visited the organisation in 2022 revisiting in May 2023 for a review programme, bringing some of Baker’s own donations to help the organisation.
New Forest for Ukraine, as of July 2023, have sent over 110 deliveries of more than £2m of aid, and works continuously to support Ukrainians.
Volunteer lead, John Allison, said: “We’ve been fortunate that Matt Baker took a shine to what we were doing.
“We got quite a bit of exposure on that, and stunningly, because it’s re-transmitted internationally as well, we’re now getting knitting in from New South Wales and California.
“It’s incredible, amazing.”
The initial Countryfile programme highlighted activities UK countryside organisations were doing for Ukraine, with the second taking more of a focus on how the organisations had progressed, a year on.
New Forest for Ukraine is made up of volunteers from the New Forest community and sent the first vehicle with supplies in March 2022.
“It’s an honour to be able to work with them [volunteers], and I’m glad I was able to play a little, tiny part in keeping it all going.”
John Allison, Volunteer Lead, New Forest for Ukraine
Allison said: “The feeling among the volunteers is amazing, they’re just such lovely people.
“It’s an honour to be able to work with them, and I’m glad I was able to play a little, tiny part in keeping it all going.”
Ukraine’s Kherson was flooded after a dam was destroyed on the 7th June, causing many deaths and contamination to water supplies, which has led to fevers and dangerous drinking water.
New Forest for Ukraine has most recently sent 398,000 thermometers, after receiving them from a corporate contact, and is also sending half a million water purifiers.
The organisation aims to send supplies to help the region, as well as distributing to other organisations in order to ‘spread them further’ through their own resources in Ukraine.
New Forest for Ukraine are currently most in need of physical items such as sanitary products and toiletries, as well as financial aid.
There are 21 drop-off sites located across the New Forest currently open for donations and more information can be found at www.newforestforukraine.co.uk.
Pictured: New Forest for Ukraine volunteers pictured with Matt Baker.
