A Dorridge fundraiser is aiming to make a difference in Ukraine ahead of another winter of war, with money being raised for frontline medics, animal rescue efforts and air defence.

Stand With Ukraine: An Afternoon of Ukrainian Culture and Solidarity will take place upstairs at Skogen on Station Road, Dorridge, from noon to 6pm on Sunday, October 25.

Organised by a group of seven friends, including five Ukrainians, the event aims to raise funds for Hospitallers, a Ukrainian frontline medical battalion, A Home for Special Tails, an animal shelter and emergency centre, and United24, which raises money to support Ukraine, including its air defence.

Organiser Georgina, who is from Solihull, met her fiancée Olha in 2024, after Olha relocated to the UK because of the war in 2022.

Olha is from Kharkiv, one of the Ukrainian cities closest to the Russian border and frontline. Her parents remain in Ukraine, while her brother is fighting in the war.

Georgina said: "Olha and I alone have her mother and father (my in-laws) still in Ukraine.

"Her brother is fighting in the war."

She went on to say: "Olha has countless friends (who are also mine) who remain in Ukraine either living or fighting.

"We wake up every day and see the devastation of what is happening there in her home."

Georgina also travelled to western Ukraine earlier this year, where she experienced air raid alerts for the first time.

She said the group decided to organise the fundraiser amid worsening attacks over the summer and the continuing impact of the war.

"By doing this now, we wanted to support getting more practical support to Ukraine ahead of winter, as last winter was awful due to Russian attacks on energy supplies and extreme cold, and Ukraine expects much the same if not worse this winter," she said.

The group also hopes to remind people that the conflict is ongoing and help them understand more about the country beyond the war.

Georgina said: "We also wanted to continue to remind people that the war is very much still happening, and open people's eyes a little to the extent of what is happening.

"Essentially, to enable us to make a difference, however small it is."

As well as fundraising, the event will celebrate Ukrainian culture through live performances, films, food, personal testimonies and activities for visitors.

The programme includes a welcome and short film, followed by live performances from Anastasia and Karolina. Olha, Ivan, Natalia and Lidia will share their stories throughout the afternoon, alongside films highlighting the work of the Hospitallers medical battalion, a home for special-needs animals, the events in Bucha and United24.

There will also be prayers led by Rev Duncan Harris-Brown and Rev William Stevenette.

Visitors can enjoy Ukrainian food, speciality drinks, artisan stalls, crafts, games, face painting and a raffle with prizes.

Complimentary borscht or dumplings, alongside a non-alcoholic compote drink, will be available with tickets until 4.15pm.

Limited-edition cocktails and Skogen's usual food and drink will be available throughout the day.

Adult tickets cost £5, with free entry for children.

Tickets will be available on the day, with last entry at 4pm.

The event is being held in partnership with Skogen, St Philip's Church, Brondi, The Forest, Joal Interiors, Forever Glow and The Swan Yard.

Georgina said the group also wanted to showcase the country's culture, which she feels is often overshadowed by the conflict.

"We also aim to help people understand the beauty of the Ukrainian culture through all the other elements of the fundraiser, as sadly this is so overshadowed now in the global media due to the war," she said.

"Hopefully [we will] have people leave realising that we are closer and more connected to Ukraine than we think."

Full details can be found on Stand with Ukraine Dorrdige's Instagram page.