The initiative comes as the two-week-old war between Russia and Ukraine intensifies, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warning of a “humanitarian catastrophe” amid mounting civilian casualties, as well as dwindling food and hospital supplies across the country.
According to the UN rights body (OHCHR) there have so far been 1,123 civilian casualties since the beginning of the conflict.
In response Paradigm, one of the UK’s leading mortgage distributor businesses, has this week set up its ‘Just Giving’ page at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ukraine-paradigm to accept donations which it said would go directly to the British Red Cross Society’s appeal to help the Ukrainian Red Cross.
In a statement, Paradigm said all money would go towards providing food, medicine, clothing and shelter, as well as first aid training in bomb shelters.
The Red Cross has, in the meantime, continued to distribute food and hygiene parcels in addition to thousands of litres of water since the fighting began. It is also supporting hospitals and healthcare facilities, helping families stay in contact with each other and helping to repair homes, schools and community centres.
Paradigm’s parent company, Tatton Asset Management plc, will reportedly be matching donations made through the page.
Bob Hunt, chief executive at Paradigm Mortgage Services, said: “To witness what is happening in Ukraine right now is truly devastating. We’ve been looking at different ways we can support the Ukrainian people whose lives have been turned upside down by this illegal war perpetrated upon them by Russia.
“We’ve therefore teamed up with AMI to set up this ‘Just Giving’ page to accept donations to the British Red Cross appeal for Ukraine, which will directly support their incredibly important work right across the country.
“We’re also pleased to say that Tatton Asset Management will be matching these donations, helping to raise more valuable funds for these individuals. Many people will already have donated in a number of ways, but if you’ve yet to do this, we’re asking all those associated with our industry to show their support for the Ukrainian people.”
For his part Robert Sinclair, chief executive of AMI, said: “The humanitarian disaster being created by the conflict in Ukraine should be of concern to us all.
“The movement of millions of women and children across Europe is going to create a need for aid at levels not seen in Europe since the Second World War. The British Red Cross has the expertise, capability and capacity to provide direct assistance to those most in need, where hopefully they can operate under a flag of safety.
“AMI is supportive of initiatives promoted by firms such as Paradigm for those who want to express their support in a tangible way. We will be sharing this solution with all our membership.”
The fundraising campaign the two are working on is also intended to find a wide industry audience and provide more support to those caught up in the Russia-Ukrainian war.
Paradigm said in a statement that it was “asking members and all stakeholders within the advisory community to share details of the appeal or other campaigns to raise funds for the people of Ukraine”.
That also includes a request for help in other ways such as donating clothing, blankets, toiletries and travel equipment.
Mortgage Introducer has reached out to a number of banks, mortgage experts and lenders for feedback, asking whether they intended to join the appeal or whether they were planning on working closely with other entities on similar initiatives to help Ukrainians who are caught up in the war.
