“What has surfaced is how unprepared we are still for war in Europe, despite world wars within living memory. The unthinkable has happened again on our watch, and the people of Europe have been outstanding in their response.”

When Russian forces began their invasion of Ukraine a year ago, Assistant Professor Diana Shore’s thoughts immediately turned to her inspirational grandfather who volunteered to go behind enemy lines, driving vital supplies during the World War II.

He drove one of the first lorries into the Belsen concentration camp after it had been liberated by the Allies. His experience of war and the horrors he witnessed at Belsen changed his life, and he returned home a different man.

His sense of duty and determination to make a positive difference had a profound impact on his young granddaughter.

When the unimaginable happened, and war returned to Europe in February last year, Diana knew she had to do something to help, just like her grandfather had done over seven decades earlier.

In March 2022, Diana launched the first ‘Homes for Ukrainians’ Facebook page, which provided an innovative and effective way for British people to volunteer to take in Ukrainian refugees who had fled their home country with little to nothing.

Within just two weeks, over 12,500 safe spaces had been found as a direct result of the webpage Diana had created.

“The people of Europe have opened their hearts and their homes to the people of Ukraine but the absorption that is now needed is unprecedented and beyond the scope of our collective spare rooms.”

Whilst managing the page, Diana was battling Russian online trolls as they began to infiltrate the group, all the while voicing her concerns around the lack of safeguarding measures to protect those fleeing their homes.

Diana described the chaotic situation on the border and the sudden mass migration of vulnerable, traumatised women and children as “modern slavery and trafficking issues waiting to happen” and set about highlighting these dangers.

Following an interview with The Guardian, Diana’s call for the introduction of rigorous Ofsted-style safety measures, led to 16 independent safeguarding experts writing to the government demanding action.

The newspaper also contacted Facebook officials on Diana’s behalf after she suggested utilising dating-app-style software that can pinpoint a person’s location, to filter out the Russian trolls who were harassing people on her page.

Diana’s herself became a host, opening her home to Nataliia, after giving her the reassurance of safety she needed before she left her home country for the first time.

“The Ukrainian national character is one of neatness, quietness, and respect - a joy to host”.

Diana worked with Nataliia to draw more attention to the needs of fleeing women and children. She worked with local MP Michael Fabricant to convey a message to the Prime Minister at the time, Boris Johnson, who penned a handwritten letter of support to Nataliia and welcomed her to the UK.

It wasn’t long before Nataliia found her feet in the UK and embarked on her profession here as an accountant.

“Gone are the days when Ukrainians need teddy bears and toys for children. Specific things are needed like work boots to walk through bomb sites and medical supplies to care for the wounded”.

Since then, Diana’s focus has shifted to supporting the present needs of Ukrainians. She now works with community groups and businesses to facilitate donations of practical items like safety clothing and steel capped boots to prevent injuries from war debris and key medical supplies.

“One year on I still wonder at the powers and influence of the global citizen, I applaud the people of Europe and wish us a phenomenal year ahead. One where we work together to rebuild the peace and connectedness that we had almost took for granted. And one where we celebrate the ending of this brutal futile war and work together to create a more stable continent that we can claim as home.”

Diana Shore is an Assistant Professor at Warwick Manufacturing Group and has been working to support Ukraine and its people since the invasion began.

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