THREE Salisbury siblings have raised more than £1,000 for Ukrainian refugees by selling sweets and squash in the city centre.

Oliver, eight, Annabel, six, and two-year-old Alice Cowen, under supervision from dad Matthew, appealed to the public for donations on Saturday March 19.

Matthew said: “We didn’t have too much planned on the Saturday, so we thought we would go out and make the most of the weather.

“We used an Ikea stool, and they had some of their toys, and just thought we would get started with the squash, but then a kind stranger volunteered to get some sweets.

“Oliver had made a hand-drawn sign, with a Ukranian flag, and with a marker pen had drawn: ‘Raising money for Ukraine’.

“Oliver was joined for a while by his little sister Alice, who is two years old, until she had to go for a nap, and then Annabel joined in.

“He was a bit shy at first, but he kept saying, ‘Squash and sweets for a pound, raising money for Ukraine’, and I think repeating the phrase helped.

“People were chucking in ten and twenty pound notes and change. People were really on board with making donations, and some weren’t even taking any of the sweets.

“It was a good way for them to build confidence, too.”

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Moving from sunny spot to sunny spot as the sun moved, the children stayed in the High Street for a while.

They then moved on to talking to people sitting at tables in pub gardens in the Market Square and Wetherspoons.

They raised more than £1,000, which is going towards a family friend’s efforts in the country.

Ruth Croxford, who lived for many years in Ukraine and is fluent in the language, has set up a fundraiser to send money directly to friends helping refugees in the country.

“Our family friend Ruth has lived out there and has many contacts with churches and families,” Matthew said.

“She set up a fundraiser helping families directly that she knows, or has contact with via her network.”

Ruth had already raised £8,000 but, with the children’s fundraising, her total has now reached £9,000.

Matthew added that the children have some awareness of the issues in the country: “They are aware of the issues in Ukraine and that people need help. We don’t go in to too much detail, but they are aware.

“If I had been out there asking for donations on Saturday, I don’t think people would have been so willing to donate!”

To donate to Ruth’s work, email ruth.croxford@om.org

Newsquest has pledged to donate proceeds from sales of some of its largest newspapers to the Red Cross DEC Ukraine Humanitarian appeal, which is dedicated to helping and saving those affected by this horrific and bloody war. We’re asking you to join us.

Please join us: justgiving.com/fundraising/therewithukraine 

Donations made via JustGiving and use of the JustGiving website will be subject to the JustGiving privacy policy https://www.justgiving.com/about/info/privacy-policy/privacy-policy-v30 and cookie policy https://www.justgiving.com/about/info/cookie-notice 

None of the donation will be collected by Newsquest. Financial transactions are with JustGiving to donate to the British Red Cross Society DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

In the unlikely event that the British Red Cross Society raise more money than can be reasonably and efficiently spent, any surplus funds will be used to help them prepare for and respond to other humanitarian disasters anywhere in the world.

For more information visit  https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/disaster-fund Charity Registration No. Eng/Wales 220949,Scot SC037738, IOM 0752, Jers430

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