AN ENTREPRENEUR from Hartley Wintey has shared a story of how small businesses have come together to send help to the people in Ukraine who were affected by war.

Kevin Ashley, who organised the collection drive among firms in Hampshire and Dorset, said it was incredible to see the togetherness in the community.

Small businesses in health, social care and education sectors together collected a van full of essential items.

Kevin, founder and CEO of learning management system myAko, is currently on his way to Krakow with his co-driver Joe Plank to deliver the goods.

The items were collected after Kevin reached out to his business partners and clients.

“What we have done is to get together with a bunch of small companies from the region," Kevin told the Gazette on his way to Krakow. 

"We thought we could make some donations to Poland to help with the refugees.

“Initially I reached out to all the people who work with us – my partners and some of my clients. Our clients are in health and social care and education for primary and secondary schools. We also work with charities and transportation companies.

“Quite a lot of them supported and later we went out to public. We had a centre in Salisbury and Hartley Wintney each. Both centres got a lot of aids in. We ended up going to Costco and purchasing a lot of goods as well. It has been amazing with the public response.”

Some of the small business that got involved were Omnia Smart Technology, Giant Digital, PHL Group Limited and Courts Design.

Kevin said he has also been overwhelmed by the response from people.

“One lady literally went shopping just to buy things for our collection drive,” he said.

“Then we had an old lady who walked through the village using a Zimmer frame and gave us £30 cash because she doesn’t do online banking.

"Mrs Jane Plank who is currently undergoing cancer treatment led the collection point in Salisbury. People did runs to Cosco and the supermarkets just to collect aid. One lady mentioned people were all walking around with similar lists.

"Giant Digital supported us by building a free donation site, utilised their offices as an aid collection point. They also donated £1,000 of Costco shopping, thanks to Vim Pat and Simon Evans. Maggie Ashley did a lot to pack and sort the aid in Hartley Wintney."

Our local aid coordinator in Krakow is Faye Savage, originally from Bristol now living in Krakow. She coordinated over 20 tonnes of aid last weekend.

Kevin will be handing over the goods to Faye Savage, a British woman living in Krakow who coordinates with an NGO there. She had helped transfer more than 20 tonnes of aid last weekend.

Kevin hopes to get back home by Sunday evening or Monday morning and prepare for his second trip.