Rutland County Council has welcomed support for Ukrainian children and families from football charity Leicester City in the Community.

Around 40 Ukrainian nationals have arrived in Rutland so far as part of the UK's Homes for Ukraine scheme, with a further 50 expected in the coming weeks. Families with children as young as two are being housed with local sponsors throughout the county and are getting help from Rutland County Council to access education, employment, healthcare and translators.

Leicester City in the Community has an excellent relationship with Rutland County Council's Virtual School, providing support to Children Looked After through mentoring and enrichment activities.

As the charitable arm of Leicester City Football Club, Leicester City in the Community is now looking to provide further support to children arriving from Ukraine, by setting up football sessions for them in the local community. As part of this support, Leicester City in the Community has also generously supplied toys, games and school supplies for children from Ukraine.

Dylan Mistry, an Inspire Coach for Leicester City in the Community, said: "We have a great partnership with Rutland Virtual School enabling us to support care experienced children through mentoring and enrichment opportunities.

"This partnership has now allowed us to provide wider support to newly arrived children from Ukraine. We hope that the toys can provide some comfort during a very difficult time and that the children and their families feel welcomed by Leicester City in the Community."

Cllr Samantha Harvey, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Care at Rutland County Council, said: "We're extremely grateful to Leicester City in the Community for their incredible support, which we know will mean a lot to children and their families.

"Officers from Rutland County Council are working closely with refugees and their sponsors. Through our conversations with them, we're starting to hear about some of the horrific things they've gone through before managing to reach safety. Football has a unique ability to bring people together. Support like this provides children with a little bit of normality as they begin to come to terms with what's happened and adjust to life in a new place."

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The UK's national Homes for Ukraine scheme remains open. Anyone who can help to provide accommodation for refugee families can register their details online. 

If you're unable to provide a home for Ukrainian refugees but would like to help, you can donate money to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

Local people have already hosted cake sales, collected clothing, and raised over £750 by performing in Oakham town centre.  

For more information about the work being done by Leicester City in the Community, visit their website. 

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