'I keep feeling the greatest and deepest admiration for the unbreakable spirit of the Ukrainian people. I remain hopeful that our countries will be able to further work closely together to achieve a just and lasting peace.' - King Charles III, Independence Day of Ukraine, 24 August 2025

Tuesday 21 July 2026 ... as I write this, funds raised stand at an extraordinay £121,474. Maybe I am the face of this but, without you, none of this would be possible; thank you for your unwavering support and generosity. Through your extraordinary generosity, we continue to support humanitarian projects across Ukraine.

As the Russo-Ukrainian War moves past 1,600 days (now lasting longer than World War I) there are few, if any, Ukrainian families who have not been impacted; emotionally, financially, physically or tragically as Russia strives to eliminate Ukraine as a state and Ukrainians as a nation.

SINCE THE START OF THE RUSSO-UKRAINIAN WAR, I have visited Ukraine twenty-five times. I first established this site in March 2022; my first visit into Ukraine was on 4 April 2022; my most recent visit was in June 2026. Much of what I have written holds good today; in many ways more so than ever, given Russia's wilful attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure as the country endured one of its harshest winters in living memory.

During my visits, I have witnessed some of the most devastating realities. I have endured some of the fiercest attacks on Kyiv, spent time with the injured and bereaved - including children whose lives have been forever blighted by Putin's barbaric aggression - and stayed in a frontline ‘safe house’ alongside the Ukrainian military. I have experienced winter temperatures of minus 20°C without heat or light, and summer days exceeding 35°C without power, running water or internet.

Whilst I have spent more than 25% of the war-torn days in Ukraine, this still offers a mere glimpse into the intolerable suffering in much of Ukraine during these past four years. One message I hear repeatedly from my many Ukrainian friends is: ‘Don't go home and simply talk about the war. Go home and tell people that this is about far more than territory. It is about Putin's relentless determination to destroy the very essence of Ukrainian identity by erasing its history, culture and heritage.’

Our endeavours support displaced communities and other projects as Ukrainians look to rebuild their shattered lives whilst defending themselves from continued aggression. Please be assured that I fund all my own personal expenses; flights, accommodation and meals. This ensures that every penny you donate is applied to supporting a project for the Ukrainian community.

What I have written is long; it is as seen through my own eyes; it is harrowing; at times, it is heart-breaking; if you can, please support the work we do; our continued support becomes ever more important. We have been able to support many initiatives; you can read about these below. Our work is far from done; as we move forward, we have established projects with longevity; these are, perhaps, more important than before as we help many come to terms with their life changing situations.

ADDENDUM - GoFundMe rightly reviews fundraisers related to the Ukraine crisis to ensure compliance and transparency. The Trust & Safety team at GoFundMe completed reviews of this account on 27 September 2024 and 29 April 2025; the account is cleared to continue raising funds. You can find our TRANSPARENCY STATEMENT at the end of this platform.

INTRODUCTION

At the start of this crisis, Hungarian friends of mine drove to Tiszabecs, a crossing on the Hungary-Ukraine border; the scenes were chaotic, relying solely on volunteer help; they helped for three days until exhaustion took hold. They went home for a day before, on Friday 4 March 2022, heading to Budapest Keleti International Railway Station; we spoke in a video call; the scenes were the most appalling, the most harrowing, the most heart-breaking I have witnessed - ever. (The 'profile' photo at the head of this platform is Budapest Keleti Railway Station ticket office, Friday 4 March 2022).

The platforms were overflowing with women, their children and elderly relatives, many completely traumatised, penniless; the fear of never seeing their loved ones again. They were stranded, unable to even buy a train ticket; most didn’t want to remain in Hungary but to reach another part of Europe where they may have family or friends.

I asked how 'we' might help help; my friends' response was ‘cash, cash, cash’; there was no organisation; no food, no water, no free toilet; no transport; nothing. On the morning of Saturday 5 March 2022, I went to my local Prontaprint; they printed me 150 letters free of charge; I placed them through nearby letterboxes; I was hoping to raise maybe a couple of thousand; I could never have imagined a dawn was breaking that continues until this day …

BACKGROUND

My early visits to Ukraine focused on Uzhhorod with food and essential supplies, taking them to the ‘Charitable Foundation Saint George Caritas’ run by the remarkable Father Peter ('Peter the Priest'). Uzhhorod is a city similar in size to Solihull; a population of around 120,000; during the early days, it was estimated a further 300,000 people were seeking sanctuary in the city.

Since October 2022, my visits have been based in Kyiv including to Bucha, Hostomel and Irpin where the early day images so horrified the human world; from Kyiv, project work has also taken me to the likes of Chernihiv, Ivankiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, Rivne, Sumy and Volodarka. Pictured below - walking in Irpin, October 2022:

My first visit to Kyiv was on Monday 10 October 2022, arriving into Kyiv-Pasazhyrskyi railway station at 09:46 hrs in the midst of Putin’s first barbaric attack on the city's infrastructure as revenge to the Kerch Bridge attack. News, of course, had already spread as the train approached Kyiv. The sense of anger yet undiminished resolve and determination was palpable. I left the train and descended to the subway beneath the platforms. Reality struck; the subway was packed, overflowing with women and children, traumatised and crying.

I emerged from the subway into the vast plaza in front of the station building. I was the ONLY person in the plaza apart from Ukrainian police. Despite the sirens and mayhem of broken glass everywhere, there was an eerie calmness; the thud and boom of rockets exploding across Kyiv disturbed the silence. The randomness of the continued attacks was horrific and, inexcusable.

Pictured below - a misguided (or, maybe not so 'misguided') missile that landed beside the children's play area in Taras Shevchenko Park, central Kyiv:

Whenever I return to Kyiv, the attacks continue. At 08:30 hrs on Saturday 14 January 2023 my hosts and I were shaken from our beds as four missiles landed nearby; the house shook in its boots; danger is never far away. Pictured below - house destroyed by falling debris less than 100 metres from my hosts' house in Kyiv:

I write notes as I go along, trying to capture, in the moment, what I see, my mood and my emotions; many people have kindly said this helps form a better understanding. But first, we look at our current and ongoing projects, followed by some other examples where your generosity has helped so much.

OUR CURRENT PROJECTS ... ... ...

UKRAINE HAS TALENT - COVENTRY

Saturday 21 February 2026

Unveiling 'Project Hostomel'; a new initiative

STOP PRESS ... tonight raised the extraordinary sum of £4,415. My heartfelt thanks to EVERYONE who came together to create such a wonderful night.

The second in our series of 'Ukraine Has Talent' concerts featuring some of the extraordinary talent in our local communities; the concert showcases great Ukrainian talents in song, music and dance and is completely sold-out with 200 guests. The evening will be compered by TV impressionist, Christopher Gee.

'Project Hostomel' is a new initiative to help wives, mothers, young children and military veterans rebuild their lives whilst facing severe financial hardship following the loss of loved ones during this horrific conflict. This will be a community driven initiative not only supporting those carrying the heaviest burden but also inspiring and empowering others by reminding communities that healing is both possible and powerful when carried out together.

ALL ABOARD 'THE KYIV EXPRESS' ... the second one !!!

Saturday 14 February 2026

3,003 pairs of ski gloves and 220 beanie hats

As Ukraine endures one of its harshest winters in living memory, its people continue to suffer from Putin's inexorable disdain for even the most basic standards of civilised humanity. The ongoing barbaric attacks on the country’s infrastructure show no sign of abating. As ever, we help where we can.

An unexpected phone call from an anonymous donor:

'Nick, would you like some ski gloves for Ukraine?'

'For sure - thank you.'

'SOME' turned into 3,003 pairs of top quality ski gloves and 220 beanie hats. All sorted, vacuum packed, boxed, labelled and loaded aboard 'The Kyiv Express', trundled its way across Europe to 'somewhere in Ukraine'. The gloves then made their way to the likes of Ivankiv, Izium, Kharkiv, Marhanets', Mykolaiv, Pavlograd, Poltava, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and more places East.

To my 'anonymous donor' and to all those who facilitated this happening, once again, my eternal thanks.

ALL ABOARD 'THE KYIV EXPRESS' ... the first one !!!

Saturday 17 January 2026

Over 2,000 blankets to front-line communities

In November 2025, I asked a local Lions Club for 100 blankets for The Center for Children and Youth Creativity of Ivankiv Village Council, a ‘prykhystok’, (a shelter or refuge), a place where children can escape from the horrors of the war and be children again.

During emergency situations, the children and staff are required to ‘evacuate’ to the basement shelter, an area in need of urgent major repairs. The basement is bleak with an open drain, antiquated furniture and cold and damp surroundings. This was a proposal to provide blankets to help alleviate utility outages during the freezing winter months ahead.

Through the incredible expertise and generosity of The Lions community, this became a national appeal. Over 2,000 blankets have now been sent to Ukraine during what is proving to be one of the harshest winters in living memory.

OUR ONGOING PROJECTS ... ... ...

OKHMATDYT NATIONAL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, KYIV

Okhmatdyt is the national children's hospital of Ukraine.

On 28 January 2023, Sergiy Klymenko, Pediatric Surgeon and Head of Emergency Department at the hospital wrote: ‘Dear Mr Nick ! ... The need for medical assistance has increased significantly not only among the military, but also among the civilian population, in particular children, due to the constant shelling of our country. In connection with the destruction of many hospitals and maternity homes, the need for providing highly qualified care for children has increased significantly, and our hospital, as the main children’s hospital of the country, is doing everything possible to ensure effective treatment of patients from all over the country. In addition, we have been and remain the largest centre in Ukraine for the treatment of congenital and acquired malformations.’ Pictured below - Okhmatdyt June 2023; handing a coagulator to Sergiy and his team.

On 8 July 2024, Russia attacked Okhmatdyt National Children's Hospital in Kyiv causing devastation and outrage across the globe; I was in Kyiv and witnessed this shocking incident; I wrote:

'Monday was a beautiful morning here in Kyiv; talking over coffee in the garden. At around 10:30 hrs, a single (very) nearby sonic boom shattered the peace; a minute later, a second boom; our eyes connected; we knew; the beast flew directly overhead, shattering glass, scattering shrapnel. Thirty minutes later, I wrote this to worried friends; ‘I have never heard a noise like it in my life. It was like supersonic jets flying at 10 metres height. The screeching was ear piercing. Today, I read Russian Kh-101s are designed to be fired from aircraft and ‘defeat air defence systems by flying at low, terrain-hugging altitudes’; verified.'

Our work purchased twenty new Invacare Essential Care Pressure Relieving Mattresses to support re-establishing the Emergency Ward at Okhmatdyt. Pictured below - delivering the mattresses to Sergiy Klymenko on Wednesday 18 September 2024; thank you to everyone who supported this project:

I do not donate cash; it is a condition of any aid that evidence be provided that equipment is fully and properly used. One example is Taisiia Babiyenko; tragically, Taisiia required a right leg amputation, undertaken by Valeriy Bovkum, Head of Micro-Surgery, using specialist equipment funded by our community. Taisiia spent ninety days in intensive care but is now on the road to recovery; a young life saved by your generosity. Pictured below - Taisiia Babiyenko:

HOSTOMEL PRIMARY HEALTHCARE CENTER, HOSTOMEL

I first met Olena Yuzvak, the Director of Hostomel Primary Healthcare in June 2023; I had no idea of her story; a quite extraordinary individual.

Russian forces advanced on the Kyiv suburb of Hostomel and its airport, bringing unspeakable horror on the town and its residents; intercepted phone conversations between Russian soldiers called this ‘zachistka’ - cleansing. The battle for Hostomel Airport was the first major battle of the war; the town was given the title Hero City of Ukraine.

Olena was beaten and taken to her home; there, the Russians shot her husband Oleg through the thigh and knee and locked him in an upright refrigerator. Plastic bags were placed over the heads of Olena, Oleg and Dima (their son, then aged 22), taped around their necks; Olena’s medical training said they had forty seconds to live. A Russian soldier slit the bags with a knife but the beatings and interrogations continued. Pictured below; Olena Yuzvak:

Eventually, Olena was released; Oleg and Dima were abducted to Russia; after some weeks, Oleg was returned as part of an early prisoner exchange. For three and a half years, Olena awaited news of Dima, his welfare and whereabouts unknown, captive somewhere in the Russian Federation, hoping and praying one day they will all be reunited; and, this day came in October 2025; Dima was included in a prisoner exchange.

Imagine for one moment the turmoil and the torture that Olena has lived through. Yet, through this, she has dedicated her life to helping others, going about her work, selflessly placing the welfare of others way above her own; her dedication, compassion and professionalism are beyond words. She told me of her five-point vision for the future:

Olena has described to me that the incidence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in children in Hostomel is amongst the highest of anywhere in Ukraine; hard to prove but equally hard to disprove. She eloquently explains that unless the children of Ukraine are treated today, Ukraine will have no future tomorrow. Her vision was to employ two psychologists to treat the children; but only if she could fund the salaries for an initial twelve-month period. The cost; in total; two salaries; one year; £10,000.

With your generosity, we achieved this goal; the critical importance of this work means that we have continued to fund this work; helping many traumatised children. Pictured below - with Olena and 'our' two psychologists:

CENTER FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH CREATIVITY OF IVANKIV VILLAGE COUNCIL, IVANKIV

Faced with brutal military aggression, some countries would have chosen the path of stiffening the regime. Not Ukraine; on the contrary, efforts have been intensified to make governance more transparent and effective. The deepening of decentralisation gives more power to citizens, strengthens local ownership of policies, and consolidates social cohesion.

In order to have liberty, cooperation partnerships between Ukraine and others are fundamental. Among all the challenges concerning the civilian population, children are the priority. They suffer terribly, and they are the future of Ukraine.

The abduction of over 16,200 Ukrainian children by Russia is a war crime according to the International Criminal Court. Support for the millions of Ukrainian children who are suffering because of the war must be at the heart of the cooperation partnerships. These children need a 'prykhystok', (a shelter or refuge), to breathe away from the horrors of the war, to be children again, to overcome the immeasurable trauma they suffer and to continue to live, in spite of this, with this. Pictured below - The Centre for Children and Youth Creativity of Ivankiv Village Council is one such 'prykhystok'.

In October 2023, I sat with Viktória the then Director at the centre. It was very uplifting to be told 'Nick, you are the first person to suggest a co-operation to us; it will enable us to grow'.

Ivankiv is located in northern Ukraine, near Chernobyl and close to the Belarus border. The hospital here was 'front-line' during the disaster of 1986; there is a small museum; on one wall, a mural depicting this catastrophe. Pictured below - the Chernobyl disaster:

SERGIY HRYNENKO - VETERAN OF THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE, PRYBIRS'K

Throughout my work, I have thought it maybe an idea to have our 'heroes'; people who we can follow and whose rehabilitation we can support. The first of these is Sergiy Hrynenko; here is his story as written by Ivankiv Hospital:

'A person who is a fighter, an optimist, always smiling and friendly, next to him you feel somehow exalted, despite his state of health. In 2015, Serhiy was seriously injured near Starognativka, Donetsk region: a sniper’s bullet severely injured his skull and brain. He was in the intensive care unit for more than two months, had to undergo several complex operations, but Serhiy is still semi-paralyzed, needs surgical treatment and rehabilitation, as well as constant help from his mother Valentyna. Pictured below - with Valentyna, and Sergiy:

After the injury, the boy developed a desire to draw. At first, this activity was like rehabilitation to develop the hand, and later it turned into a hobby. Serhiy Hrynenko has the status of a participant in the war, received a certificate of a participant in hostilities.

Awarded the Badge of Honor from the Ministry of Defense.

We wish Serhiy a speedy recovery, we admire his strength of spirit!'

Ivankiv is located in northern Ukraine, near Chernobyl and close to the Belarus border. Now that Serhiy has left hospital, he wishes to regain his independence, financially supporting himself and his Mum. Pictured below - one of Serhiy's paintings:

Our project work has helped focus Sergiy and, remarkably, has seen him regain the use of his right arm and, more recently, movement in his legs; our work supports Sergiy’s medical needs, and, hopefully his continued further rehabilitation. Doctors have recently said they believe the progress Sergiy has made might well now enable him to walk again … after ten years.

The power of art !!!

A BRIEF LOOK AT SOME OF OUR EARLY PROJECTS ... ... ...

KELETI INTERNATIONAL RAILWAY STATION, BUDAPEST

In the early days, I met Edit, a Hungarian lady who had a small table in the Keleti foyer; the station only allowed her to stay there because she'd been there from the very first day. She and her friends worked every day providing free sandwiches and water and 200 forint coins for the toilets.

For the first three months of the war, our community funded sandwiches, water and toilet facilities at Keleti to enable Edit to continue her work. Pictured below - some of the provisions provided by our community at Keleti International Railway Station; Thursday 7 May 2022:

AID TO CHARITABLE FOUNDATION SAINT GEORGE CARITAS, UZHHOROD

During the height of the refugee crisis in the summer of 2022, it was estimated there were up to 300,000 refugees living in Uzhhorod; a city roughly the same size as Solihull with a resident population of 115,000; a ratio of almost 3:1.

Through connections in Hungary, I was introduced to Peter ('Peter the Priest'), a quite remarkable man and Priest of the beautiful St. George's Roman Catholic Church in Uzhhorod. Peter is Hungarian but has lived and worked in Ukraine for many years; his twin brother, Gyuri lives in Esztergom in Hungary. A local Hungarian mayor kindly agreed to lend us his community's mini-van. Gyuri and I did multiple food and aid runs to Uzhhorod during the first six months of the war. Pictured below - our second food and aid delivery to Uzhhorod; Monday 25 April 2022 (left to right with, Zoli, Peter the Priest and Attila):

LEARNING WITHOUT BORDERS SCHOOL, BUDAPEST

This 'school' (more properly a ‘Day Care Centre’ to comply with Hungarian legislation) was situated on the fifth floor of a building occupied by ‘OBI’ (the equivalent of B&Q). The walls were beautifully decorated by Ukrainian refugee artists.

In April 2022, Migration Aid (Hungary) outlined their vision; 15 Ukrainian teachers, teaching 80 Ukrainian children, in Ukrainian; they needed funding. Notwithstanding the enormity of the project (18,000,000 forints; £40,000), our community funded the first three months of the project; it was, of course, a massive statement about what we had already delivered in Budapest (and, in Uzhhorod in Ukraine) at the very onset of the war.

The centre opened to the children on Tuesday 26 April 2022, just two months after the start of the war. The aims of the 'school' were to:

Provide short-term paid employment for 15 refugee Ukrainian teachers

Provide a structured learning environment for 80 refugee Ukrainian children

Provide proper meals and nourishment for the Ukrainian children

Enable Ukrainian mothers to take part-time day jobs whilst their children learn

Initially, this was a short-term project to the end of the school year in June 2022 that directly benefited Ukrainian refugees. However, the 'school' remained until October 2024 when the children were relocated to two other schools in Budapest.

LAKE BALATON SUMMER CAMP, HUNGARY

AND, AS PROMISED, SOME MEMORIES AND HIGHLIGHTS ... ... ...

SUNDAY 2 JULY 2023 - 07:30 hrs

UZZHOROD CEMETERY, ZAKARPATTIA, UKRAINE

71 fallen heroes

Every one a Son, a Brother, a Husband, a Father

WHY

We Will Remember Them

DECEMBER 2022

My friend, Elaine Charles produced a calendar of twelve of her beautiful paintings; Elaine wrote: 'Well guys we absolutely smashed it. Thank you so very much for all your contributions, likes, shares etc.. I had 500 calendars made up at £10 each and hoped and prayed we would hit £5000 to help the women and children of Ukraine but with your kindness and support we have managed to achieve £5765 !! as people have also gifted. My last 2 calendars went today. I have transferred the cash to Nick Wormald and now he will continue to do his brave work in Ukraine. He will keep me updated with projects and photos. He is a truly amazing man who has got off his backside and made a difference.

OCTOBER 2022

In October 2022, I attempted my biggest, boldest and most bizarre challenge; those privy to my plans said the most stupid !!! I set out to walk 1,000,000 steps during the month to raise a further 1,000,000 Ukrainian Hryvnia (approximately £25,000) to help some of those whose lives have been shattered.

In the event, I walked 1,034,368 steps; that equated to an average of 33,367 steps per day; approximately 15 miles daily; the equivalent of a half marathon each day of the month. Some days I walked more (the most was 60,590 steps); some days, I walked less. My itinerary took me to Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia and, to our own green and pleasant land.

UZHHOROD HOSPITAL VISIT - WEDNESDAY 4 MAY 2022

I wrote this immediately I returned to the car after visiting some of the sick and some of the soldiers in Uzhhorod Hospital; I have edited it a little (xxx); if you would like to know why, please send a message via the 'CONTACT' button below:

... o-h m-y G-o-d

... I thought I'd see it all; until today

... it is just beyond words; the doctors in the hospital xxx to patch up the broken bodies

... you talk to the mentally scarred who look at you but don't see you

... you fear walking around the next corner

... ... ... the first bomb dropped in this region yesterday at Volovets ... ... ...

Pictured below - Uzhhorod Hospital:

SUNDAY 17 APRIL 2022

Today, I walked 110 laps of Knowle Park to raise further funds for Ukraine. Starting at 00:02 hrs on the morning of Sunday 17 April 2022, I walked for 17 hours 5 minutes 48 seconds covering 101.98 kms, walking 118,104 steps (verified by Strava and Step Tracker). A long-held 'bucket list' challenge completed to walk 100 kms in one day... followed by an excellent pint in The Red Lion, Knowle !!! Thank you to everyone who encouraged me and donated as I went on my way. Late in the day, it dawned on me that I take the early flight to Budapest in the morning ... ... ...

LETTER FROM BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - SUNDAY 3 APRIL 2022

I wrote the below during the evening of Sunday 3 April 2022 before our first food and aid run into Ukraine the following day:

I begin by wiping the tear that’s just fallen to the page; one of a thousand this week.

On Monday, I arrived in Budapest to see with my own eyes, hoping to help. By 9:30 hrs on Tuesday morning my illusions were shattered. The pictures you see on the TV are shocking enough; when you sit here in Budapest and ask a Ukrainian family to tell their story over a coffee, it completely tears you (and them) apart. Never, could I have properly prepared for what lay ahead.

The Hungarian authorities have created a vast transit camp (‘BOK’, next to the Puskás Aréna) that offers everything. Trains now stop at Kőbánya to the north of Budapest with refugees encouraged to pass through the transit camp; many do but, many still go directly to Keleti International Railway Station (often for onward travel to a more distant destination). Picture below - BOK Transit Camp

But, the law in some onward countries is such that passengers must have a seat reservation (3 Euros); the vast majority of refugees have no money.

Estimates say over four million people have already fled Ukraine; nearly 500,000 to Hungary. But, that only tells a small part of the story. My Ukrainian connections tell me possibly as many as NINE MILLION more have fled to the west of Ukraine away from the likes of Mariupol, Kharkiv and Donbas; they hope to remain in their homeland; but, should Putin move west, another unthinkable human catastrophe awaits to unfold.

On Thursday, we found Liza and Léna, two completely traumatised Ukrainian women, one with a young son, Maxim, plus SEVENTEEN animals (they had an animal sanctuary); they had not a single penny. The husband of one of the ladies (the father of the son) had been shot dead defending Kyiv; what can you do, what can you say. The ‘system’ doesn’t provide for such situations; the group wanted to head to Montenegro for sanctuary; together, we hired a minibus and driver and sent them on their way.

LETTER FROM UZHHOROD, UKRAINE - MONDAY 4 APRIL 2022

On Monday 4 April 2022, I went into Ukraine for the first time; I wrote the below in The Priests' House in Uzhhorod, Ukraine before retiring to bed:

This evening is the most extraordinary night I have ever lived; world without end. After delivering food and emergency provisions in Uzhhorod in Ukraine, we had dinner in The Priests' House; Peter the Priest then took us for a walk around this absolutely beautiful city; we came home, he gave us a bottle of home-made Ukrainian wine.

Gyuri (Peter's twin brother) and I opened it and, as we began to drink, the air raid sirens started to scream; the missiles soared overhead; a black Tanzanian lady came from her room; a refugee lady who has nothing but insisted we ate her cakes.

A dichotomy of complete confusion.

When silence returned, Peter the Priest said, come, I will say English mass in the small chapel. I went with Gyuri; the small chapel has four seats; Peter began 'Blessed Brother, Blessed Nick'.

As Peter took the wine at the end of mass, the air raid sirens exploded again; 'Nick, this mass is for you and the people in your community who have given for our community'.

Tonight is a night that will remain with me forever.

CONCLUSION

If you have arrived at this point, thank you for reading. I wanted to keep this to one page; I couldn’t; it could have been 1,001 pages; I can assure you I could easily have made the read even more heart-wrenching; really, .

You have my unequivocal assurance that not one penny of your money has been, nor will be wasted nor spent on 'central overheads'; every penny has been spent as if it were my own. Never did I think I would see sights like I have; at times, I have felt completely traumatised and utterly helpless; my mind will never be free of the images I have seen; God alone knows how the fleeing millions must feel. Everywhere, the pain and the anguish is beyond words.

Of course, the money we have together raised not even scratches the surface; but we are here, and we are active on the ground. Some of the projects we have supported are:

In the early day, buying train and bus tickets and supporting translators

In the early days, providing toilets and hot water at Keleti International Railway Station

Every day, funding Edit to provide sandwiches, food and water at Keleti

Every day, paying 250 forints (60p) per refugee for them to use the toilets at Keleti

We have part funded and help established the ‘Baby Mama’ facility in ‘The BOK’

Food and aid runs to ‘Charitable Foundation Saint George Caritas’ in Uzhhorod, Ukraine

We funded the 'Learning Without Borders' school in Budapest until June 2022

Sourcing UK Sponsor Hosts and applying for UK visas

Lord of all the earth, be present with the people of Ukraine

at this time of danger, fear and conflict.

Grant that wise and peaceable counsels may yet prevail and

give to all suffering nations the freedom they desire and deserve.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

(Worcester Cathedral - August 2022)

But, even so, amongst all this rubble, you stumble across rays of sunshine that illuminate the darkness; for sure, Ukraine will rise again.

What I’d really like to say best remain unspoken … … … one despot; 44 million lives.

Thank you for reading; best wishes, Nick (Mr. Nikolay)

Mr Nikolay - the name. I was asked by many people - here in England, in Hungary and in Ukraine - for the name of 'our Group’; saying it’s Knowle and Dorridge and the broader community in Warwickshire, Worcestershire and The West Midlands didn’t really cut it. In Hungary, they all call me ‘Mr Nikolay’; I thought this gave everything an identity; at the time, I couldn’t think of anything else; I hope it’s a platform that we can all stand behind.

TRANSPARENCY STATEMENT

My Full Name - Nicholas Arthur Surtees Wormald

Names of individuals or organisations we are / have supported:

Charitable Foundation Saint George Caritas 88000, Uzhhorod

Learning Without Borders School, Budapest

Okhmatdyt National Children's Hospital, Kyiv

Hostomel Primary Healthcare Center, Hostomel

The Center for Children and Youth Creativity of Ivankiv Village Council, Ivankiv

Sergiy Hrynenko, Veteran of 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, Prybirs’k

A front-line military unit with life-saving medical equipment

Chudo 'Miracle' Village

Cities where funds and assistance are being sent:

I personally source and deliver humanitarian aid directly to 'our' projects. As at 1 August 2025, I have visited Ukraine twenty-one times during the war supporting those benefitting from our fundraising endeavours; I do NOT send any cash; this ensures complete transparency of all funds raised. Cities where humanitarian aid has / is being sent include Budapest, Chernihiv, Chudo Miracle Village, Hostomel, Ivankiv, Kyiv, Prybirs’k, Sumy, Uzhhorod and Volodarka.

A detailed plan explaining how the money has been / will be used:

Charitable Foundation Saint George Caritas 88000, Uzhhorod - food and humanitarian aid taken to Uzhhorod under the guidance of 'Peter the Priest' (Uzhhorod Roman Catholic priest).

Learning Without Borders School, Budapest - assisting Migration Aid (Hungary) establish a school in Budapest for displaced Ukrainian children.

Okhmatdyt National Children's Hospital, Kyiv - medical equipment support for the Emergency Ward and the Microsurgery Ward.

Hostomel Primary Healthcare Center, Hostomel - employing two psychologists to treat children suffering the effects of PTSD.

The Center for Children and Youth Creativity of Ivankiv Village Council, Ivankiv - supporting this ‘prykhystok’, (a shelter or refuge) with operational costs; our work supports 1,917 local children.

Sergiy Hrynenko, Veteran of 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, Prybirs’k - Sergiy is disabled save for his left arm; support with medical needs and encouraging his art therapy.