Charity which helped Chernobyl children plants sunflowers in solidarity with Ukraine

Fostering Compassion ran workshops with youngsters who visited Scotland in 2018 and 2019 as part of an initiative with Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline Trust and Swiis Foster Care (see image below).

The Ormiston-based charity, which helps vulnerable youngsters find their voice by using experiences of rescue animals to help them, has sent messages of support to families affected by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

And in a mark of solidarity, staff have planted sunflower seeds – the national flower of Ukraine – in a pot in their office.

The Chernobyl nuclear power plant where the disaster occurred in 1986 is located in the north of Ukraine and fell into Russian hands in the early stages of the invasion.

Lesley Winton, founder of the charity, said that the thoughts of staff had been with the families as they recalled their time spent with the children.

She said: “We met the children in 2018 and 2019 when they visited Scotland and worked with them.

“We do not know where they are now but wanted to show our support and do something to say they are in our thoughts.”

The sunflower features as a part of Fostering Compassion’s workshops, which teach children how to move on from mistakes.

Youngsters are encouraged to plant a seed and water it every day to help them realise that by making a better choice daily, something beautiful can grow.

Fostering Compassion helps hundreds of children and young people every year and in 2020 saw more than 400 youngsters.

The charity, which started in 2013 when it supported just 10 children, saw numbers rise over the last year with an increase in demand for help and a move to offer online workshops.

Its workshops centre around helping children tap into their empathy and emotions by talking about the experiences of rescue animals and relating them to how they feel.

The work has proved extremely successful in helping children identified as struggling with behaviour or emotional issues.

Youngsters who visited Scotland with a Chernobyl charity benefited from workshops held by Fostering Compassion

The charity is currently fundraising to ensure it can continue its work with a campaign launched last November to raise £20,023 by November 2023, when it will mark its 10th anniversary of providing support.

Lesley is appealing to supporters to consider pledging £50 each over the next two years – £2 a month – to help them reach their goal or set up a direct debit for £2/3 a month for two years.

She said: “If we can get 400 people to raise £50 over the next two years, we will meet our goal, which will allow us to continue our work, which is more in demand than ever these days.”

The charity has a range of workshops for different age groups and before the pandemic regularly brought rescue animals and therapy ponies into workshops to meet with youngsters.

Visit fosteringcompassion.org for ways to support the charity campaign to raise funds, including signing up for a small direct debit or buying a doggy bandana.