This was shared on my street WhatsApp group so I thought I'd put it here in case anyone can help. The message is from Natalia, a mother whose daughter Sofia went to Rhodes Avenue primary school when the war broke out in Ukraine. Natalia and her daughter (now 15 and going into Year 11) returned to Ukraine to be with family but with the Russian bombardment intensifying are keen to come back to London.
Hello everyone,
This is Natalia and Sofia. We hope you are all doing well.
We often think back to the time when we first came to England at the beginning of the war and attended Rhodes Avenue School. We remember every one of you with great warmth and gratitude. You were incredibly kind and supportive to us during a very difficult time in our lives, and we will always remember that.
Unfortunately, due to family circumstances and because my husband has been serving in Ukraine, we had to return to Kyiv. The situation here has become incresingly difficult and unsafe. Missile attacks have become more requent, sometimes without an air-raid warning. Recently, my husband was at a training ground when three missiles struck nearby. Thankfully, he survived, altough he suffered a concussion. He is very worried about us and strongly believes that Sofia and I should leave Ukraine and go somewhere safe.
That is why we wanted to ask you for a small favour. Do you perhaps know anyone — friends, relatives or acquaintances — who might be able to rent us a house or a flat for a certain period of time?
We would be incredibly grateful for any help or advice. We are looking for somewhere safe and comfortable for the two of us, and of course we are ready to pay a reasonable amount for the accommodation. We are quiet, responsible and will treat someone’s home with the utmost care, keeping it clean and tidy.
We completely understand if you are not able to help, but even if you know someone we could contact or could simply point us in the right direction, it would mean so much to us.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for everything you have already done for us. We still remember you all with so much warmth and gratitude.
I will pass on any thoughts or leads you might have.
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