Heart-warming gift for five-year-old Ukrainian refugee in Hereford

Little Zlata along with mother Halina, is one of the 300 Ukrainian refugees now housed in Herefordshire after fleeing the Russian invasion.

Hereford Help for Ukraine has been helping Ukrainians as they seek refuge in the county, including Zlata and her mother.

Now, one of the centre's coordinators, Mariya Polova, has given Zlata a new bicycle to enjoy during her time in Herefordshire.

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Halina would like to thank the Hereford family who donated the cycle via the centre.

Zlata is extremely grateful and the smiles on her daughter's face says it all, she said.

Dean Granger and Johno Johnson are the two Ukrainian program officers based at the Three Elms warehouses.

"We are really in need of maintaining these levels of vital aid in this ongoing effort," said Mr Granger.

Dean Granger (left) and Johno Johnson are the two Ukrainian program officers based at the Three Elms warehouses

"Now of course, with Ukrainians being hosted in Hereford we are committed to supporting their needs over here."

Bicycles are an essential part of this, as well as important for social, leisure and exercise, said Mr Granger.

So far, the group has sent over 120 tons of aid out of our Three Elms unit over to Ukraine all kindly donated by the good people of Hereford.

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"Any donations of serviceable bicycles in good clean condition would be greatly appreciated."

Spare cycle helmets and other accessories such as lights, hi viz, repair kits, locks are also needed.

Hereford Lions Club has also been working with refugees across the county and has delivered a selection of mobility aids to Hereford Help for Ukraine.

Lion Terry Williams said: "The refugees will mostly be mothers and children, but some elderly amongst them might be disabled and need support."

The volunteers are well prepared with a warehouse full of clothes and everything else the refugees.

Mr Granger said: "We had already made 14 trips with vital supplies to the Ukrainian border and now we are ready to support the refugees as they arrive in the county.

"Without so much goodwill from Herefordians we couldn't continue to do what we do in supporting Ukrainian people to settle into the county and we also continue to supply vast amounts of aid both to the Ukrainian borders and into Ukraine."