Dr Good receives MBE for her organisation Sunflower Sister that gives support to Ukrainian families.
Dr Alice Good from the University of Portsmouth was made an MBE in King Charles III’s first Birthday Honours List for her work with the support group Sunflower Sisters.
Dr Good started the Sunflower Sisters Ukraine/UK organisation as a Facebook group following the Ukraine invasion to offer support to families arriving in the UK from Ukraine.
Sunflower Sisters supports Ukrainian women and their families in moving to the UK under the Homes For Ukraine scheme, both practically and emotionally. This includes finding a sponsor, applying for visas, and all aspects of travelling to and settling in the UK.
This is a daunting process at a time when these people are going through such deep trauma, and Sunflower Sisters holds their hands at a time when they need it most.
Dr Good, a Senior Lecturer in Human-Computer Interaction and Research Methods at the School of Computing, said: “I am honoured to receive this MBE in recognition for the work Sunflower Sisters has done for Ukrainian citizens. I hope that it will encourage more people to come forward as sponsors for the continuing high numbers of people fleeing the war, given we are established as a recognised matching organisation. I’d also like to see additional resources from the Government to tackle the issues Ukrainians are facing in the process of renting.
“This is a daunting process at a time when these people are going through such deep trauma, and Sunflower Sisters holds their hands at a time when they need it most.”
Since March 2022, Dr Good and her team have built her vision into one of the UK’s leading non-profit refugee support organisations. They have helped place nearly 14,000 Ukrainians in the UK, along with visa applications and support with coming to the UK. Their women’s only support group has grown to a membership of over 33,000. The group offers a wide range of support including:
- Providing emergency accommodation,
- Transport from Ukraine and Poland,
- Coordinating the delivery of aid to Ukraine and refugee camps in Poland and Germany,
- Working with evacuation teams in Ukraine and Poland,
- Meet and Greet Service for Ukrainian nationals arriving in the UK,
- Support with applications for pet licences,
- Translators,
- Supporting refugees settling in the UK with advice on accommodation, jobs etc,
- Working with government bodies to inform policies.
The group also gives support outside the UK through their work with the Ukrainian volunteer army based in Odesa, supporting the Kherson and Mykolayiv areas. They regularly coordinate the delivery of aid to these areas via their own transport systems and broader networks. They also work with refugee camps in Poland and Germany, delivering aid and finding sponsors for individuals.
To find out more about the Sunflower Sisters and how to get involved visit: https://sunflowersisters.co.uk/
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