CIC Casus Pax has delivered more than £130,000 worth of medical and humanitarian aid to war-torn Ukraine.

With seven trips so far, city CIC Casus Pax has delivered more than £130,000 worth of medical and humanitarian aid to war-torn Ukraine.

And with support from Liverpool BID company it’s hoping to increase its efforts to supply medical and humanitarian aid, carrying out between five and seven further missions between now and the end of the year – the first of those this month – and taking that total to around £500,000.

“In the first year or so we were able to collect or generate alms from friends and family, or acquaintances in Liverpool,” says Adam McQuire, who set up Casus Pax up with partner, Holly Tann, after first visiting Ukraine in February 2022.

“But because we have been so successful in getting quality aid to where it needs to be we were starting to have more calls to service than we could accommodate, and we realised it was going to have to develop into a fully-fledged organisation with backing. 

“Liverpool BID Company chief executive Bill Addy looked at what we had been doing, he looked at the numbers – which speak for themselves – and we have been very lucky with the support he’s given us, and what it’s led to. So far it’s been tremendous.”

Adam, 31, and Holly, 29, from Toxteth, began to help soon after the outbreak of war because, with Ukraine and Polish heritage, it seemed ‘very close’.

The main aim was to supply hospitals and field hospitals that had been created in the refugee corridors with life-saving medical aid, which they do by buying up surplus equipment from trauma kits to life-saving defibrillators, and search and rescue kits to surgical supplies and breathing apparatus, at a fraction of what it’s worth.

“This kit is sterile, it’s in packaging, and it’s within or on date, and we can benefit from it, buying incredibly valuable kit that won’t be used and cannot be used in the UK or Western Europe. The purchase of aid is our lowest expense,” says Adam, who has a background in military and medical logistics. “We can fill a van with £50,000 of equipment for £450.

“But it costs around £1,600 to get us there and get us out of a conflict zone and home.”

Liverpool BID has managed to broker storage space for Casus Pax – who have also provided clothing, hygiene products and food, and who now also move critical aid around the country for other organisations who are unable to do so – as well as organise helpful networking events, encourage fund raising help, spread the word about what the community interest company does, and more.

“We were actually slightly overwhelmed when we started getting the offers of support, we have got the Cavern Club doing a Eurovision commemorative t-shirt for us – find it here – and The Beatles Story is doing a fundraiser for us, it’s tremendous. It means that hopefully we will be able to double the size of our fleet, and double the size of our deliveries.

 “Liverpool BID has been very receptive to what we have been trying to do, organising those network events. We are converting from a CIC to a charity by June and the BID has been really useful in creating those interactions with corporate bodies in Liverpool who may donate once we have that number (charity number).”

Adam adds: “Liverpool has a tremendous history of standing in the way of tyranny. We have done it as a city before in World War II where we stood isolated and in control of the war in the Atlantic, which controlled the flow of humanitarian aid for an entire continent for six years.

“It’s traditional that our city does this and supports this work, and I’m very proud of the support that Liverpool’s given us so far. It’s worth saying that we appreciate and cherish it.

“The Ukrainians are a tough people, but stoicism doesn’t stop bleeding. That needs intervention and that’s what we are trying to help provide.”

Bill Addy says: “We’ve been mindful ever since we found out we were successful in hosting Eurovision for Ukraine, that a priority was to support Ukraine and its people as much as we could. 

“Casus Pax stood out to us, as a small Liverpool-based initiative that could make a significant impact to people’s lives. Equally, founders Holly and Adam impressed us with their drive, ambition, and compassion.

“We have introduced them to city businesses, many of whom have been moved to support them – and we are also in the process of auctioning semi-final Eurovision tickets with the proceeds going to support Casus Pax.”