Charity seeks host families in Derbyshire for children affected by Chernobyl disaster

The Bonsall and Derbyshire Dales Link of the nationwide Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline (CCLL) charity is seeking local families who would be interested in hosting two Ukrainian children between nine and 11 years of age, for two or four weeks this summer.

This year’s programme will take place from July 11 to August 8.

CCLL chairman Chris Broome said: “With more than three decades that have passed since the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, many Ukrainian and Belarusian families still face the effects of the accident every day of the week.

“When the disaster happened, many families, especially those of a poorer background, ended up in a death trap, having no money to move away from the affected areas.

“With little support from their governments, they remain locked in their polluted towns and villages, still having to consume contaminated food they grow in their kitchen gardens and drink water they draw from their contaminated wells.”

CCLL continues to support the families affected by Chernobyl by bringing groups of children over to the UK for a four-week health recuperation holiday. It also offers free eye tests and glasses and dental treatment for those who need it.

Chris added: “Spending a holiday in the UK boosts the children’s health and self-esteem, and gives them a better chance of a reasonably healthy and successful life.”

The Derbyshire Dales branch was formed back in 2002, and during its 18-year history has provided recuperation for more than 160 children.

Chris said: “The number of children we can invite largely depends on how many host families we have.

“Families can choose whether they would like boys or girls and what sort of age. This year the children are being invited from a school in a town called Korosten in northern Ukraine. It is approximately 100km away from Chernobyl and was badly contaminated by the radioactive fallout.”

If you are interested in being a host, call 01629 824512 or email [email protected].