Ukrainian orphans to arrive in Forth Valley

Stirling is set to welcome orphans from Ukraine.

They're being transferred to a site in Callander - where it's expected around 50 children between the ages of 2 and 19 will stay.

The children will then be moved to Edinburgh.

It's being led by The Dnipro Kids Appeal, and Stirling Council.

Stirling Council Chief Executive Carol Beattie said: “Dnipro Kids approached us asking for support and our staff responded quickly to help make sure the children have what they need.

"The suffering faced by innocent families and communities is heartbreaking to witness and we are prepared to do whatever we can to help them.

“Stirling Council has a proud history of welcoming and assisting refugees.  We have participated in the Syrian Refugee Resettlement Scheme since its launch in 2005 in response to the Syrian crisis and we are committed to supporting efforts to resettle Afghan nationals. Now we are stepping up to aid the innocent Ukranian victims of the Russian military invasion.

“These children have shown enormous courage to flee the devastation and constant fear they were facing in their own homes to try to integrate somewhere new.

“Our first priority will be checking on the health and wellbeing of the young people and making them feel welcome. After that, we have put in arrangements to ensure they are completely integrated into the community whether that’s going to school or taking part in various activities.

“They will be warmly welcomed into Stirling’s communities where they will find support to get used to their new environment, and help getting to know the country that has welcomed them.

“We stand ready to help in Stirling if there’s more we can do for the children.”

Dnipro Kids board member, Robert Brown, said: “Once I knew that the children would definitely be coming, I immediately contacted the Chief Executive of Stirling Council on Wednesday afternoon and by close of business on Friday, we put together a comprehensive support package. The Council deserve a lot of credit for this.

“Both Dnipro Kids and Stirling Council are committed to giving the children a wonderful time so that they can escape the trauma of what they’ve been through, and we can turn their experience into an adventure they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.

“I would urge everybody to keep on supporting Ukraine with donations of cash. Ukrainian men are in the front line of a fight to protect our democratic way of life. We must therefore do all we can to help their wives and children wherever they are. It is going to be a very long haul, so we need to donate and donate and donate.”