A team of dedicated Oldham charity workers are helping families forced to leave Ukraine to settle in the borough.

In the last fortnight,  AID Ukraine 22 has found six Ukrainian families homes in Saddleworth, two in Lees, two in central Oldham and one each in Royton, Shaw, Chadderton, and Failsworth.

Some families, who originate from different regions, are attending Sunday services at the local Ukrainian Catholic Church of St Peter & St Paul & All Saints in Oldham.

Friends of the charity, parishioners and volunteers are setting up a parish food bank and a space for gifted clothes and footwear.

And the charity is diversifying to provide advice, linguistic, practical, social and spiritual support to the newly arrived adults and children. 

Stefan Moroz, spokesman for the charity, said: “We are still continuing to collect clothes, footwear - particularly trainers - baby food and baby equipment, (bottles, nappies, prams, strollers), medication, money, toiletries, shaving products and female hygiene products. 

“These are distributed and passed on to the new arrivals who have limited financial resources. Many who have come just have one set of clothes and the most meagre of personal possessions. 

“AID Ukraine 22 would be grateful to any local businesses, church and community groups, schools and individuals for any biscuits, buckwheat, pasta, rice, tinned foodstuffs, tea, jars of coffee to enable us to maintain a decent supply of a variety of provisions.”

It come as new figures show almost two dozen Ukrainian refugees accepted to stay with hosts in Oldham have not yet reached the UK.

The Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, also known as Homes for Ukraine, allows citizens to volunteer to house refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Sponsors offer accommodation for at least six months, with those receiving sponsorship allowed to live, work and study in the UK for up to three years.

Home Office data from Tuesday (May 17) shows 57 visas have been granted to stay with hosts in Oldham, from 62 applications – but as of last week, just 35 of these refugees had arrived in the UK.

The Home Office said some refugees are choosing to stay put or travel elsewhere, which may explain some of the gap between arrivals and the number of visas granted.

A spokesperson called it "one of the fastest and biggest visa schemes in UK history" adding they are now “processing visas as fast as quickly as they come in” as a result of changes to the application system.

To help, contact Stefan Moroz on 07905 657 695 or email stefanmoroz56@yahoo.co.uk