Watch more of our videos on Shots!
and live on Freeview channel 276

The Lancaster district has close ties with the Polish city of Lublin, having been twinned since 1994.

Lying just 70 miles from the Ukraine border, Lublin has seen an influx of refugees and the town council and residents are struggling to help them.

A community meeting on Thursday (March 3) saw members share information about collection points in the area but also agreed that cash donations were really most useful to allow Lublin to buy the specific supplies it needs.

KROSCIENKO, POLAND - MARCH 07: People who fled the war in Ukraine wait to board a bus after crossing the Polish Ukrainian border on March 07, 2022 in Kroscienko, Poland. The country was already home to a large Ukrainian population of around 1.5 million, the region's largest, making Poland a major destination for refugees from the current war. (Photo by Omar Marques/Getty Images)

The meeting agreed to set up an emergency fund to support Lublin with the help of Lancaster CVS.Caroline Jackson, leader of Lancaster City Council said: "It was truly impressive to have so many community members attend a meeting set up so quickly. There were a number of creative and practical suggestions of what we can do. We heard from local refugee support organisations of support for Ukrainians unable now to go home, we had offers of help from Polish speakers in our community in our work with Lublin and learned about support from local emergency accommodation networks once refugees arrive. I am sure we can provide significant support for Ukraine and especially for our twin town Lublin.”Anyone who wishes to offer ideas or to know more detail can get in touch via [email protected] for meeting notes, details of organisations and for the fund information once it is set up.

A recording of the meeting is also available on Youtube here

Emergency fund set up to help one of Lancaster's twin towns in Ukraine