Tom Gordon MP raises funds for Harrogate and Knaresborough District of Sanctuary with talk on Ukraine

Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough raised
£450 for Harrogate and Knaresborough District of Sanctuary this week, with a talk
and Q&A on his experiences in Ukraine. The MP travelled to the Kyiv and Odessa
regions of Ukraine earlier this year, attending remembrance events and visiting the
site of the Chornobyl disaster.

The District of Sanctuary supported more than 350 Ukrainians who settled here after
the outbreak of the war. Mr Gordon discussed the ongoing issues for Ukrainian
diaspora living in the UK, including visa uncertainty and their families being split up.
He took the opportunity to mark the anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster, which
occurred 40 years ago this month on the 26th of April 1986. Drawing attention to last
year’s Russian drone strike on the site, he discussed the damage caused to the
structure covering the facility.

A long-time supporter of the Ukrainian cause, Tom and the Liberal Democrats have
advocated for increased support for both Ukrainian defence and the diaspora. Last
year they called for the introduction of a Ukrainian GCSE and A-level and visa
certainty for those residing in the UK.

Chair of Harrogate District of Sanctuary Margaret Bond said: “We are very grateful to
Tom and the local Lib Dems for donating the proceeds from his eye-opening talk. We
have been closely involved with many Ukrainians who took refuge in our area,
providing language support and facilitated social activities to promote inclusion and
integration, as we do also with our other refugee communities. It will be a welcome
addition to our resources.”

Tom said:
“I’m a proud supporter of District of Sanctuary and the Ukrainian cause and am
heartened by the 60+ people who attended to raise money and awareness.
“People in Harrogate and Knaresborough care deeply about the plight of Ukraine
and charity like District of Sanctuary have done an amazing job at welcoming people
who came here under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

“The conflict in Ukraine is as relevant today as it was at the start of the full-scale
invasion. Ukraine’s fight is very much our fight.”