Solidarity with Ukraine - Statement from Robin Mills, Managing Director, Compass Group UK & Ireland

As we enter a second month of the humanitarian crisis in the Ukraine, we continue to review what we can do to help those most in need.

In addition to the support we previously stated - including direct help to our Ukrainian colleagues, and identification of job roles for refugees - I wanted to update you on additional action being taken.

• Homes for Ukraine – we are allocating an initial £25,000 fund that can be accessed by up to 50 of our employees who are hosting Ukrainian refugees in their home via the Government scheme to help support refugees settling in (£500 per host family will be allocated).
• Springboard Fund – in partnership with Springboard and Newham College of Further Education, we are creating and funding a programme that will provide bespoke, pre-employment support – including language training, counselling and skills building - to help refugees as they seek to rebuild a new life in the UK.
• Foodbuy – working with Oakland International - who sent a fleet of vehicles with supplies to the Poland/Ukraine border - we have donated over £8,000 of emergency supplies including a mix of food for hot meals, as well as nourishing longer-life food.

I am hugely proud of the dedication, kindness and generosity of our people, both here and around the world. Colleagues in Europe - Poland, Hungary, Spain, Czech Republic - have been setting up production facilities to provide thousands of hot meals to refugees while here, our colleagues have been truly amazing in their fundraising efforts over recent weeks, raising funds for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

Combine this with the individual donations that we are aware of from our businesses and colleagues around the world to charities including UNICEF, ACNUR and World Central Kitchen, this brings the total financial aid from the Compass family to c. £450,000 so far… and still counting. However, we know there is still more to do, and we remain committed to continuing to help.

Our thoughts continue to be with the people of Ukraine and everyone impacted by these terrible events. We will continue to do as much as possible to support them in any way we can.