RAISING MONEY FOR UKRAINE

As soon as Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 the WATERSONS team immediately wanted to help.

We are in the business of providing homes for people, so we decided to raise money to fund a home in Altrincham for a Ukrainian family escaping their country at short notice to start a new life here, so we could make at least one family feel safe again.

To raise money the WATERSONS team walked along the canal from Altrincham to Manchester and on to the Ukrainian Cultural Centre in Cheetham Hill, where we were greeted by the local Manchester Ukrainian Community who were desperately seeking aid and supplies for those coming into the country.

Peter Waterson then ran the Manchester Marathon in a time of 3 hours 23 minutes to help keep the donations coming in.

We raised £12,000, and then matched this amount ourselves to make £24,000 to pay towards the rent and overheads of a home for at least 1 year for a family in need.

We have now not only helped two families find a home, but we have also helped them integrate into society, send their children to local schools and colleges, and find employment so that they will be able to stand on their own two feet and be a real part of our community.

We are still supporting these families in whatever way we can, who are thriving in their new lives.

It has been an exceptionally special and humbling experience for us all and we are perhaps just a little bit proud of what we have been able to do.

Thank you to all of our colleagues, clients, customers and friends who have contributed to make this possible.