A silent candlelit vigil will be held in Hinckley on Friday evening in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

Everyone is welcome to attend the gathering at Argents Mead Bandstand in Hinckley at 6:30pm on Friday (4 March) in a silent show of solidarity for the country.

The vigil will remember all who have died, been injured, bereaved, or displaced as a result of the invasion of Ukraine. People will be asked to bring along a candle and light it, a symbol of hope that even in deep darkness, light will prevail.

The bandstand will be lit in the national colours of the Ukrainian flag, blue and yellow, as a sign of solidarity with the people of Ukraine and the Ukraine flag will be flown in Argents Mead and at Hinckley Hub.

Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council Leader Stuart Bray said:

I hope this vigil will give us all a chance to come together as a community and focus our attention on those people many miles away who are in trouble and pain. Local charity Feed the Hungry is also collecting donations of goods to help refugees from Ukraine so if you can help in any way, that would be much appreciated.

Anyone coming along is asked to please bring a candle or tea light with them in a jar. There will also be a collection at the vigil in aid of charities working to support people in the Ukraine for anyone who wishes to donate money or goods.

Local charity Feed the Hungry is collecting donations of goods to help refugees from Ukraine. The charity is currently collating a shipment of:

Clothing - women's and children's
Sleeping bags and blankets
Hygiene/toiletries and nappies
Dry food - rice noodles and pasta
Snacks and biscuits
Travel mugs and water bottles
Tea, coffee, sugar and dry milk
Anyone who wishes to donate any of these items can bring them into the Hinckley Hub during office hours or to the vigil between 6:30pm and 7:30pm on Friday evening.

Larger donations of pallets of goods can also be taken to Feed the Hungry’s Hinckley or Coventry warehouses by prior arrangement. Please contact gwyn@feedthehungry.org.uk to arrange this.

The charity has already bought over 40 tons of food in Czech which will be transported to two warehouses, one in Poland and one in Romania and distributed out to centres and community groups helping refugees. It is also sending funds to groups and churches who have kitchen facilities to pack food boxes or provide shelter and hot food in Izmail in Southern Ukraine.

For more information or to donate money to the appeal (feedthehungry.org.uk)