A Kendal charity that has helped Ukrainian orphans for 20 years is in serious danger because of the current threat of Russian invasion.

New Beginnings was started by Kendalian Patricia Harrison 20 years ago. She was so distraught at the plight of orphaned Ukrainian children when she visited that she felt compelled to set up the charity in Kendal.

The charity opened a foster home for orphans in 2003 called Genesis House and has run and supported it ever since.

Patricia said: "We are worried. The foster home is 2km from Kiev and on the main road.

"I think the Russians will invade, and if they do, they will go for Kiev, as that is where the communications systems are. There are eight children in our home currently, a couple of them six and seven-years-old.

"The charity and everything it has done is achieved through the people of Kendal, the people of Kendal bought that foster home, and this will matter to Kendal.

"I have been going to Ukraine since independence, and the country was bankrupt, the shops were empty, the economy was shattered, inflation was sky-high. 

"They have worked so hard to bring their country back up. 

"I am in touch with Ukraine all the time and it has gone back to square one - this is even before Russia have invaded, just the threat has led to panic-buying and nothing in shops again, and Ukraine is so reliant on gas from Russia."

Andrey Donskoy, a Ukrainian who has lived in Kendal and been a trustee of the charity since its inception, said he hasn't been able to risk travelling there.

"I did travel back and forth originally, but I haven't been back in years, because since the conflict started in 2014, there was talk of anyone able-bodied having to report for duty, as in national service, and I had a couple of letters sent to my old address," he said.

"I didn't want to put myself in a position where I would arrive at the airport and be escorted to report for duty. 

"With my job and kids here I didn't want to be in a situation where I could be pulled away from this life and into national service."

Andrey said trustees still try to get there at least once a year, to check on operations.

"We make sure they have everything they need, food in the fridge, shoes on feet for example," he said

"The state-run orphanages are horrendous places and so many children end up in prison or on the streets from there - they have no chance in life.

"The foster home is our main base project but we have other projects that we're involved in, helping local rehabilitation centres for disabled children for example. 

"We've helped some of the smaller local hospitals which unfortunately don't have sufficient funding for vital equipment and medicine so we've been helping to equip them.

"We have other projects including helping cancer patients that can't get the right medication on the Ukrainian medical programme, which is poorly funded, so quite often, the doctors are heroes, but they haven't got the equipment or medicines."

Andrey was invited to Kendal by Patricia, who says she sees Andrey 'like a son'.

"I got married, got a job, had kids, and all of a sudden, this was my home," he said.

"The biggest thing is uncertainty, not knowing what's going to happen tomorrow, things are moving so fast at the moment as we can all see.

"We wake up hoping for good news every morning and at the moment it's just getting worse. 

"We're concerned that if the conflict erupts on a bigger scale we won't going to be able to get money across. 

"All the main airlines have stopped going there which is understandable. 
"That means that we are getting cut off, and a lot of people rely on us on a daily basis."

Patricia is adamant that nothing will stop the people of Kendal supporting Ukraine.

"When we first bought the land, I had to smuggle the money in on my person, and I also used to go down myself to the streets and feed the children," she said.

"The Ukrainian people are not fighters, they have been an oppressed race for so long. 

"They are not militant, they are a wonderful race of artists and poets.

"Whatever happens, we will find a way to help them."

To find out more, visit www.newbeginningscharity.org.uk