Charity raising cash for disabled children struggling in Ukraine

A Scottish charity is set to donate money raised from its Lanarkshire shops to help youngsters with learning disabilities in war-torn Ukraine.

Sense Scotland has announced that it will be donating all sales from 16 charity shops to support disabled children affected by the conflict.

The charity has various premises in the Lanarkshire area – including Rutherglen, Motherwell, and Coatbridge – and provides support to individuals with communication needs.

All shops will be donating funds on Saturday, May 21, to the Ukraine appeal, set up by Inclusion Europe.

Inclusion Europe represents people with learning disabilities and their families in 39 countries.

It will distribute the money to 118 Ukrainian organisations to support people with learning disabilities to buy food, water, and other urgently required goods.

Currently, thousands of disabled Ukrainian children have been abandoned in care institutions across the country, following the invasion of Russian forces three months ago. Angela Bonomy, Sense Scotland’s chief executive officer, said:“I think it’s safe to say that everyone has been touched by the scenes and stories of human tragedy coming from Ukraine over the past couple of months.

“We in Sense Scotland want to show our support, and can think of no better way than by contributing to the vital work of Inclusion Europe.”

As a mark of additional solidarity with Ukraine, Sense Scotland will decorate their shops in the yellow and blue colours of the Ukrainian flag.

Collection buckets will also be present in all shops for additional donations to the fundraising effort.