Brindleyplace blog by Marko Vukovic, security supervisor
Brindleyplace will be holding a ‘Change for Change in Ukraine’ day next Tuesday, 10 May, with fundraising across the estate in aid of the Red Cross. Everyone who works and visits the estate is invited to wear the Ukrainian colours of yellow and blue and drop some cash into the buckets that will be in and around Central Square as well as on office receptions. Here, security supervisor Marko Vukovic shares his personal experiences and reflections on the current and past conflicts.
I’ve been working at the heart of Brindleyplace since 1995 when I was 25. In that time, I’ve watched the estate grow and develop to become the place it is today.
Everyone in the security and estate teams are proud to look after this special corner of Birmingham and help keep people safe.
What’s always struck me is the community spirit and the passion of those who work here. People at Brindleyplace care – about their colleagues, visitors and the wider community. It is a family-friendly estate that makes the most of its amazing location and access to the city centre.
When I was a teenager growing up in Croatia, then part of the former Yugoslavia, I witnessed first hand fighting between national neighbours and the horrors that brought home to us all – watching relatives and friends flee their homes, many of them never to come ba
The sheer terror of hearing an air raid siren in the middle of the night and running with your family to take shelter underground, never knowing if you will come out again, or what will be waiting for you when you do, is a terrible thing.
Those same horrors are repeating themselves thirty years later, but this time in Ukraine.
In the 1990s we said we wouldn’t let conflict affect Europe again. But it has.
So, what can we do to help the millions of innocent Ukrainians caught up in this conflict?
Myself and the team here at Brindleyplace have been struck by the human cost of the current war and are determined to help raise not just money to help families fleeing fighting, but also to raise awareness of what is going on.
If you can spare even a few pounds to help Ukrainian refugees, those at the borders as well as those who have already made their way to the UK and other European nations, as well as those back in Ukraine itself, then that would be a great way to show you care.
Myself and my colleagues will be out doing our bit in Central Square at Brindleyplace on 10 May 8am-6pm. As well as rattling collecting buckets at peak times, we will also have collection points on reception desks in most of the buildings across the estate. Please come and support us.
Thanks for your time.
To donate now, please visit www.redcross.org.uk
