Leading International Property Consultants, LH1 Global is calling on industry peers to engage with and support ShelterBox’s urgent appeal to support individuals and families in Ukraine impacted and displaced by the war.

The short appeal film is introduced by long-term ShelterBox supporter Stephen Fry and is based on an exclusive poem by award-winning poet and musician Serhiy Zhadan, which asks a simple question – What would you take?

This is a pertinent question that was answered by millions of Ukraine citizens as they faced regular attacks and heavy bombing, leading them to flee their homes.

ShelterBox helps some of the world’s most vulnerable people recover and rebuild their homes after disaster and has been operating in Ukraine since the outbreak of war. Its appeal focuses on the experiences of real people and asks for donations or gift purchases from those in a position to provide support to people most in need around the world.

Rayna Hunter, CEO of LH1 Global, commented: “We were moved by ShelterBox’s appeal video and immediately wanted to lend our support in any way we could. As official charity partners we will be making our own donation to the appeal and calling on friends and partners to join us, but we would also like to extend this to the wider industry.

“We in the property industry ultimately provide people with homes, so we feel it is our responsibility to try and help rebuild the lives of those affected in a war that is not far from our doorstep. We appreciate many already do so much fantastic work for charity but if we can reach just a few then that will make an incredible difference to those that have been badly affected by this unjust attack on their country.”

ShelterBox’s Programme Manager for Ukraine, Rachel Harvey, has been in Kyiv as the next phase of the charity’s response gets underway.

She says: “With the passage of time, whilst the number of people leaving the country has reduced, many thousands of people still living in Ukraine are struggling to survive in damaged homes. We know from our work in Syria that heating one room can make a huge difference to a whole family.

“It’s regularly sub-zero in parts of Ukraine and with gas and oil supplies badly hit, people are facing temperatures inside their homes that are potentially life threatening. That’s why we are focusing on keeping people and their houses as warm as possible.”

Cornwall-based ShelterBox has already supported thousands of families affected by the crisis in Ukraine since March – refugees on the move in Moldova, as well as people internally displaced at collective centres, or living in damaged homes.

As its attention now turns to helping people survive the winter months in Ukraine – supporting thousands more people who are living in ravaged homes – ShelterBox is renewing its urgent appeal to help fund its responses around the world.

The ShelterBox appeal calls for direct donations to its efforts in Ukraine or the purchase of virtual gifts that will be distributed to those most in need through the coming cold winter months.

To make a donation visit www.shelterbox.org/lh1global