The Church of England has published a ‘toolkit’ of resources for parishes seeking to help refugees and evacuees from Ukraine in the wake of the Russian invasion of the country.
The material, available online, brings together advice on how churches can welcome people arriving from Ukraine through giving, longer-term practical support such as community sponsorship, prayer and advocacy, as well as links to other sources of information including safeguarding.
In a foreword to the toolkit, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, Justin Welby and Stephen Cottrell, say that The Church calls on “all people of goodwill to join in prayer for the people of Ukraine and to work practically to support them in their hour of need.“
They continue:
“We have been inspired by the warm response from churches and community groups. We hope that in this toolkit there will be some useful answers. In these days of uncertainty and fear, we pray that each of us might again turn to the Lord and receive God’s gift of peace, work for God’s justice, and know God’s reconciliation and love.”
The toolkit includes a brief guide to what is happening in Ukraine and the humanitarian response, together with details of organisations and appeals.
It also contains information on how parishes and individuals can take action to support those arriving both through the family visa scheme and the humanitarian sponsor scheme, advocacy and prayer and theological resources for churches.
Find the toolkit on the Church of England's website.
Clergy in our diocese who wish to register for the Government's Homes for Ukraine scheme will find this document useful.
