Weybridge businesses came together to raise £1,150 for Red Nose Day and Ukraine last Friday.
The fundraiser, organised and hosted by Weybridge International School of English (WISE), included a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses and a silent auction of paintings from Weybridge artists.
An array of businesses synonymous with Weybridge’s High Street donated exciting prizes to the cause, including Waitrose, Teddies’ Pet Parlour, Valentina’s, Vanessa Nails, Soya and The Queen’s Head.
Liz Denham, Managing Director of Wise and organiser of the event, said: “We are incredibly happy with the amount raised for people in such a desperate situation.
“We were delighted with the turnout from the local community.
“Many local businesses were keen to assist and donate prizes. The artists were thrilled with the response and feedback from the public.”
Councillor Charu Sood accompanied two Ukrainian families to the fundraiser who had arrived from Kyiv to Weybridge in mid-March.
The families were greeted with coffee and cake courtesy of Café One.
Denham said: “It was extremely humbling and an honour to meet the family.
“As a language school we will do all we can to support them with their English learning.”
Sood added: “It was a very welcoming and heart-warming experience for them, and they are amazed by the generosity of people in UK, who have welcomed them with open arms.”
Weybridge MP Dr Ben Spencer also visited, winning a voucher from Mclaren Foods from the raffle.
Lesia Scholey, a Weybridge resident of Ukrainian origin who is helping incoming families, said WISE would play a key role in helping refugees to settle into the community.
She said: “It’s so key, especially for adults coming to the UK without English language skills, to know that there’s somewhere they can learn English locally and meet others in the same situation.”
All the money raised will go straight to Red Nose Day and charities assisting Ukrainians.
Read more about south west London businesses supporting Ukraine here.
Feature image credit: Jamie Welham
