Total raised in first stage: £11,013 (plus direct donations of equipment etc)
Total in much shorter second stage: £5,069 (plus direct donations)
Total in this stage (including this Crowdfunder): £310
Total = £16,392 (plus equipment etc)
Goal = £22,000
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This appeal, launched in June 2024, has already raised over £16,000, plus some direct donations of equipment and PPE. However the kind of equipment involved is very expensive. WE ARE TRYING TO REACH AT LEAST £22,000 TOTAL BY NOVEMBER 2024. PLEASE HELP US!
Please donate, circulate and - crucially - raise in your union or other organisation for a donation. (For a list of what they are looking for, see below.) If you can help with direct donations of equipment / PPE, get in touch: [email protected]
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With the support of UK trade unionists and trade unions including ASLEF and NUM, the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign is raising funds in response to an appeal from the section of the Independent Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine (NGPU), representing the teams of the 10th Mining Rescue Squad in eastern Ukraine. The NGPU is part of the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine (KVPU).
The work of the Rescue Squads includes not only operations in the mines that they have kept working, but also fighting fires and carrying out wartime rescue operations in the towns and villages which are under direct Russian artillery and missile attacks. Many rescue workers have been killed, some deliberately targeted by Russian strikes.
They are working in very difficult conditions with few resources. The conditions in those areas is such that they have to carry out Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) operations with the most basic equipment. There is no on-hand facility for the supply or maintenance of sophisticated USAR detection and structural equipment as used by UK fire and rescue service USAR teams.
USC is a solidarity and support organisation that works directly with Ukrainian trade unions in a range of sectors. Responding to appeals from rescue workers on the frontline, we are raising funds to procure equipment which the trade union has appealed for to help the Rescue Squad.
Please donate and share awareness of the appeal.
Thank you to UK organisations supporting the appeal, including the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), train drivers' union ASLEF, London Fire Brigade branch UNISON, and Millwall branch and NE London Area Fire Brigades Union (FBU). The appeal has also been promoted by the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
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Equipment the Rescue Squad is looking for includes:
Tunic and leggings
Fire boots
Helmets
New Fire fighting gloves
Atlas diesel compressor trailer
Hyundai Flood pump
Medical trauma first aid kit
Halligan bar tool
Mobile lighting trailer diesel powered
Shovel light weight
Foam branch
Gas analysers
Thermal imagers
Holmatro cutting equipment set petrol powered
Pick axe
Rescue axe small hatchet
Large rescue axe
Helmet pads
Portable radios
Winches