Hargreaves Land has proudly supported the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in delivering vital humanitarian aid to Ukraine through a long-running charitable initiative focused on supporting mining communities and front-line troops.
In October 2025, volunteers from the NUM successfully drove a convoy of 4×4 vehicles across Europe to Ukraine, delivering essential medical equipment directly to front-line forces.
The mission was made possible in part by a charitable donation by Hargreaves Land. The funding enabled the purchase of urgently needed medical supplies, ensuring immediate and tangible impact on the ground.
Building on this momentum, the NUM is preparing to deliver a further six 4×4 vehicles later this month. This next deployment will bring the total number of vehicles delivered to 55, alongside more than £1 million in critical aid provided since the initiative began. On this occasion, four colleagues will travel from the United States specifically to support the collective efforts.
The solidarity underpinning this fantastic initiative is rooted in history. The relationship between UK and Ukrainian miners dates back to the 1984–85 UK miners’ strike, when miners in Ukraine raised food and funds in support of their British counterparts. Personal links were further cemented in 2007 through direct engagement with miners in Pavlograd, followed by reciprocal exchange visits that saw UK representatives go underground in Ukraine and Ukrainian miners visit Kellingley Colliery in Yorkshire.
Wayne Thomas of the National Union of Mineworkers said: “Ever since the Russian invasions of the Donbass and Donetsk regions in 2014, and the full-scale invasion in 2022, the National Union of Mineworkers has continued to support Ukrainian coal miners facing extreme and dangerous conditions. While some mines remain operational, many are now too unsafe to work, placing immense strain on local communities.”
The NUM’s fundraising and coordination efforts form part of Senedd4Ukraine, a cross-party group of Senedd Members established to support and coordinate aid initiatives for Ukraine.
All funds raised through this initiative are used exclusively for the purchase of vehicles, medical equipment, and essential supplies. Volunteer drivers personally cover all accommodation, food, and return travel costs, ensuring there are no overheads deducted from donations.
Andrew Johnson, Regional Director at Hargreaves Land, said: “This is an amazing humanitarian initiative that we are very proud to support and we are pleased to have played a role in directly benefiting those most affected by the conflict in Ukraine.”