Press Release: Sunflower Sisters Founder made MBE
Dr Alice Good, founding member of Sunflower Sisters, has been made MBE in King Charles III’s first Birthday Honours List for services to Ukrainian citizens. Dr Good is a full time university senior lecturer, who in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine came up with an innovative idea from which a life-changing sisterhood was born.
Over 15 months, Dr Good and her team built her vision into one of the UK’s leading non-profit refugee support organisations– bringing together like-minded women to coordinate and support families fleeing the conflict in Ukraine and settle those arriving in the UK under the Government’s Homes for Ukraine Scheme. Following the invasion, she established the Sunflower Sisters’ ‘women only’ Facebook group to offer reassurance to families fleeing the war. Little did she know, the group would grow at such a rate. She quickly built a strong and skilled management team and welcomed compassionate and like-minded volunteers. She believes the key to the group’s successes are its inspiring and resourceful women. “The Sisterhood” as Dr Good refers to it, has inspired a whole host of people to open their hearts and give their time freely. Sunflower Sisters quickly responded to the unfolding humanitarian crisis, fostering a compassionate culture that delivers a personalised hands-on service and generates incredible results.
Sunflower Sisters has helped over 14,000 refugees to come to the UK. They deliver specialised help for Ukrainians in crisis, a tailor-made meet and greet service and have provided dedicated transport bringing guests to the UK from Ukraine. The group has also organised several innovative Aid trips, including two to refugee camps in Poland and Germany, as well as a trip to Odessa in 2022, delivering much needed Aid to previously occupied areas of Kherson. This is something close to Dr Good’s heart – despite her incredibly busy home and work life, she led and accompanied many of the overseas Aid trips. Because of Sunflower Sisters’ trusted reputation, the group has forged important links with many UK and overseas humanitarian organisations, who continue to support their endeavours.
An altruist at heart, Dr Good will march forward with her army of female humanitarians, dedicating every spare minute she has. Sunflower Sisters plan to continue their work to support Ukrainians in the UK and overseas to adapt to their changed lives. Registering for charity status is also next on the group’s agenda, along with further Aid trips.
A special event took place at Downing Street on Thursday 15th June to mark the Honour’s announcement. Dr Good was one of only four recipients selected to attend out of a total of 1100 people receiving honours. She spoke movingly at the event about the needs of Ukrainians and paid special tribute to the current and former volunteers behind the group’s incredible achievements. She was accompanied to 10 Downing Street by her seven-year-old daughter Molly, who, whilst incredibly proud of her mother’s achievements was, according to Dr Good, completely overjoyed to Meet Larry the Downing Street Cat!
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Background Notes
MBE stands for Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
Dr Good and the Sunflower Sisters story was one of four Honours recipients chosen to be featured from 1100 people recognised in the first King’s Birthday Honours. To mark the occasion, she attended an event and press conference on Thursday 15th June 2023. After a tour of 10 Downing Street, Dr Good spoke with journalists about her work and the future needs of Ukrainians arriving in the United Kingdom.
About Sunflower Sisters
Sunflower Sisters was set up by Dr Good in March 2022, as a private, female only Facebook group to help assure and safeguard against online abuse and human trafficking as Ukrainians appealed for sponsorship under the UK’s Homes for Ukraine Scheme. Today, the group has over 34,000 members.
Over 150 female Sunflower Sisters volunteers have provided support in the placement of over 14,000 Ukrainian refugees in UK homes
Sunflower Sisters’ volunteers include an extremely diverse group of women. Past and present, they have comprised busy full-time mothers, retirees and career women spanning all types of profession from ecologists, doctors, potters and even train drivers – all have found common ground in their altruism.
Sunflower Sisters also supports Ukrainians to settle into local communities by drafting and sharing guidelines and forming networks with other organisations providing support to refugees.
Quotes
Speaking at the press conference, Dr Good said: –
“I am here to represent Sunflower Sisters, not to take the credit for our achievements, because it is only through the dedication and commitment of all our volunteers, past and present, that we have been able to support so many Ukrainian citizens. This MBE is in recognition of our collective efforts ”.
Dr Alice Good Founding Member Sunflower Sisters
“Looking to the future, refugees need stability. I would like to see greater support and encouragement for sponsors to help sustain the scheme and get more people to safety. I’d also like to see, additional resources from the Government to tackle the issues Ukrainians are facing in the process of renting”
Dr Alice Good Founding Member Sunflower Sisters
“At our event, Dr Good spoke so movingly about why she started her charitable work and I think everybody was touched by the value of what she and her team has achieved.”
Alison Bennett – Head of Honours, Honours and Appointments Secretariat, Cabinet Office
“I am so proud and humbled to be a member of Sunflowers Sisters’ Steering Board and delighted for Alice to receive this deserved recognition. As we move to registering for charitable status, Sunflower Sisters are in a fantastic position to ensure that support is given the greatest prominence to help women and families who find themselves displaced due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We continue to put their welfare at the heart of everything we do, and thank the amazing sponsors who open their hearts and homes”
Terri Magowan -Sunflower Sisters’ Steering Board.
“I’m absolutely delighted for Alice and I’m proud to be one of Sunflower Sisters’ Steering Board Members. It’s been a life-changing experience for me and she has brought together so many inspirational women that think nothing of giving their time to make a difference to those in need.
Rosie Wilcock, Sunflower Sisters’ Steering Board
“I am incredibly proud of the personal attention that Sunflower Sisters’ volunteers bring to those we support, from their first contact to them trying to find some peace and hope in the UK. We hold women’s hands through what is usually a daunting and devastating time, and carry on being here for as long as they need it. This is part of our ethos that is at the core of what we do, and I am thankful that Alice has provided the vision for kind, compassionate volunteers of any background to be able to make a difference”.
Debs Moran, Sunflower Sisters’ Steering Board
Links
https://sunflowersistersforukraine.tempurl.host
https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsunflowersistersforukraine.org
https://www.facebook.com/groups/www.sunflowersistersforukraine.org
https://twitter.com/Sunfl0werSister
https://www.instagram.com/sunflower_sisters_ukraine_uk/
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