An ongoing refugee crisis began in Europe in February this year, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Almost 3.5 million refugees have left Ukraine since the start of the conflict, while an estimated 6.48 million people have been displaced within the country. Since then, most have gone to neighbouring EU countries and the UK has launched a new scheme to help people host Ukrainian refugees in their homes.
One such family, from London, are preparing to all move into one bedroom so they can squeeze a Ukrainian family into their two-bedroom home. Bridget Schmidt, 44, from Barnes, is looking at living out of one room with her husband and two children so they can provide a safe home for a family of refugees fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking to My London, Bridget shared that her four-year-old daughter Eloise is on board - and has even donated her Barbies and her favourite teddy bear to Ukrainian children. Bridget said: “My husband was reading about [taking in Ukrainian refugees]. We just had a talk about it [the other] night. What I am thinking is that a mum and one or two kids could have my daughter’s room. If their kids need a separate room they could have the playroom.”
Bridget, who is originally from Hungary, has been struggling to explain the horrors of the Russian invasion to her young daughter. She added: “When it started we told her there are Russian soldiers knocking on people’s doors. This was the only way I could explain it to her.
“She has given her toys to the Ukrainian children. I was really shocked.” The parents’ bedroom is currently shared by Bridget, her husband, Didier Ramgoolam, and their 18-month-old son Eliott. But since Eloise spends most of her nights sleeping with mum and dad anyway Bridget thinks she will hardly notice that she's given up her room.
On top of looking to share her home with a Ukrainian family, Bridget has also been collecting baby slings to send to the Ukraine-Hungary border. She explained that a group of London mums have been flying 2,000-mile round trips to Eastern Europe three or four times a week to try and hand out baby slings so refugees can safely carry their luggage and look after their babies.
Bridget added: “I was really surprised by the [the Russian invasion of Ukraine] and wondered how I can help. Mothers running away cannot carry their kids. Some of them only have flip flops on.”
The group of mums have already received donations of up to £1,000 and between them they are flying three or four times a week with suitcases full of up to 20 baby slings. Bridget is now hoping to head to Budapest in April to help refugees on train platforms, if her help is still needed then.
The British government is currently offering £350 a month to Brits who can put up refugees fleeing Ukraine. The government hopes tens of thousands of people could come to the UK under the new scheme. Bridget urged anyone who wants to donate baby slings to Ukraine to email her at sbridget87@gmail.com
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