The owner of an Aberfeldy hotel and pub restaurant at the centre of a reach-out to Ukrainian people says it has been inundated with sponsorship offers from businesses in Highland Perthshire that want to sponsor fleeing nationals.
Schiehallion Hotel began by offering to employ and house two people when the conflict first broke out.
And then others agreed they too could spare a room and offer a job. Before the week was out, around 50 vacancies had been pledged.
Aberfeldy’s generous spirit was further bolstered when a Pitlochry man, Duncan Spinner, who had escaped himself, came and spoke at the hotel about the desperate need to find homes for his colleagues in Ukraine.
But only last week the UK Government was way behind the humanitarian activism blossoming in Aberfeldy, with no obvious way to get Ukrainians over to Perthshire fast.
Yesterday, Michael Gove, head of the Levelling Up scheme, was expected to give a statement outlining how UK citizens could sponsor Ukrainians and be paid £350 a month to open their arms and provide a place to live.
Gavin Price, owner of the Schiehallion Hotel and two other local pubs, has started a database to list the Perthshire places that would home refugees.
Those keen to sponsor cover Pitlochry, Aberfeldy, Grandtully and Kenmore, with interest snow-balling.
“We have had a terrific response after the presentation by Duncan Campbell Spinner last Wednesday,” said Gavin yesterday, ahead of the announcement on the easing of visa hold-ups that have so far prevented Ukrainians coming here.
“So much so that we have been inundated with more offers of jobs from businesses and offers of accommodation from people throughout Highland Perthshire.
“There is clearly an overwhelming desire for people to help and we have built up quite a database now.
“With a further announcement expected tomorrow from the Home Office on Humanitarian Visas, we hope things might move a bit quicker next week.
“As a result I would encourage anybody who is still interested in offering accommodation or work please to get in touch.
“Please email info@schiehallionhotel.co.uk”
Gavin shared a typical Ukrainian plea he had received asking to relocate to Scotland - a woman called Tetiana.
She wrote: “Due to the latest events happening in our country, we were forced to flee Ukraine.
“As we had to flee very quickly, unfortunately, we weren’t able to take a lot of things with us, and I don’t have my passport with me, only a Ukrainian ID, which I am not sure will be enough to enter Scotland.
“We are currently in Poland staying with friends. We have a little son Mark, he is only six weeks old.
“My husband, Andrii, is a constructor, he can do a wide range of works, from electricity and fixing water pipes to building houses and decorating rooms.
“I have a Master’s degree in IT technologies, I am very good at organising things.
“I’ve been working as an English teacher for the last four years and I also have experience in marketing.
“We Ukrainians are hardworking people, motivated, stress-proof, loyal and easy-going. We always do our best no matter what we do.”
