The Ukraine crisis: big businesses are here to help

Law firm Stone King donates to Ukraine and gives advice to those seeking safety.

By Amber Hill

2022 has brought many challenges, but none are as prevalent as the Ukraine crisis. If you visit any news website, pick up any newspaper, or watch any news broadcasting, there is bound to be mention of Russia’s merciless invasion of the small but resilient country. Despite being over 1500 miles away, the war has captured the UK’s interest and touched our hearts, encouraging us to extend our sympathies and compassion through donating what we can and exhibiting our support through activism on social media and in the political space.

While many of us are stuck wondering about President Putin’s motives, others are working towards supporting the Ukrainian people directly. Stone King is a law firm primarily based in Bath, with offices dotted around in London, Leeds, Birmingham, Cambridge, and Bristol. According to their website, the firm has a ‘leading reputation in the education and charity sectors’, as well as focusing on issues surrounding faith, business, and personal clients.

Stone King wasted no time in jumping to the aid of Ukraine’s people, something that Steven Greenwood, a managing partner of the firm, saw as a testament to our humanity.

“Little and often doesn’t work there. You need to be sure that the money is going to people on the ground and that it has a big impact”.

Using the money that they had reserved for other causes, the Stone King Foundation donated £10,000 to big charities such as Oxfam, since these are the organisations that work directly with affected people. Such work includes lobbying to governments to provide a safe place for displaced individuals who have suffered the brunt of the invasion. Startlingly, most of the refugees that have been forced to find safety within UK borders are women and children.

In order to help further with the process of aiding refugees who are coming into the UK homeless and without identification, the law firm has repurposed its immigration team and launched the Ukraine Advice Project UK, based in Cambridge.

One of the pieces of advice they give is how to navigate the ‘homes for Ukraine’ scheme, in which the government pays UK homeowners to give up their spare rooms to displaced Ukrainian nationals and their families. For these potentially war-torn, scared individuals, having somewhere to turn to for advice in an unfamiliar country is surely welcome. Steven acknowledges how hard the team has worked to help those in need.

“It has been quite busy and inundated with enquiries…lots of people don’t have identifying documents yet…it is very niche, practical advice which can hopefully make a difference”.

Everyone has the potential to make a difference and save lives in this time of crisis, no matter how big or small a donation. Steven urges everyone to give what they can and realise that their money will have a direct impact.

“You can follow your money and you know it is going to be used for the purpose you intended”.

How to help

If you have a spare room and are able to help with the ‘homes for Ukraine’ scheme, follow the link here.

If you are able to donate, follow the link here.

For more ways to help, follow the link here.

Image credit: Mathias P.R. Reding, Pexels.com