AMONG the many Scottish charities fundraising and delivering aid to Ukraine is the Perthshire-based TASH For Ukraine.
The charity was formed in 2022 to find practical solutions to support those affected by the invasion. This week, as Ukraine dominated the headlines once again, The National spoke to Deborah Ovens, vice chair for TASH (Tayside and Strathearn Help for Ukraine), regarding the organisation and its work.
Ovens looked back the organisation's formation, and the work it has completed in supporting Ukrainians, as the world marks three years since the Russian invasion.
“As the third anniversary of the outbreak of war passes, Tayside and Strathearn Help for Ukraine, continues to send humanitarian aid to Ukraine," she said. "As a group of individuals who came together with a common cause of helping the citizens of Ukraine in February 2022 we continue with unwavering dedication and commitment.
“The need is even greater with every day that passes. A number of our trustees have visited several times to undertake due diligence which has further consolidated the strong trusted relationships with our partners. Their visits have allowed them to see at first hand the devastation and hardships the are facing, but also the huge impact we are making as one of the few organisations still delivering aid to the area.”
Ovens said that TASH is the biggest hub in Scotland focusing on collecting, sorting and sending articulated lorry loads of aid, sending support on average every 11 days.
"Lorry 97 will be leaving on Thursday, which will be our third in a month The lorry will be packed with bedding, medical supplies, mobility aids, food, clothes, toiletries, baby milk/nappies, baby boxes. Not only that we have sent a fully equipped ambulance, mobile dentist van, 23 vans and over 2000 Christmas boxes."
Ovens said that the team now has around 25 volunteers, though the numbers peaked in spring 2022 at 90.
With the current ongoing debate surrounding Ukraine, namely instigated by US president Donald Trump, Ovens gave her thoughts on the situation.
“The Ukrainians were attacked and have a strong will that they will fight for their land – a true resolve and a pursuit to hold onto what is theirs," she told The National.
"The sacrifices of the civilians putting themselves forward and the will of the nation we can see permeate through to our Ukrainian volunteers. We are hearing of their families who have not slept for three years, yes, three years due to sirens throughout the night, yet they haven't let their guard down and face the new day; they have to."
