We've all seen the devastating news coming out of Ukraine. It can be hard not to feel helpless - especially when you want to help.
At the AA, we're keen to do whatever we can to support Ukrainians in need. So we've launched a number of initiatives to do just that.
These initiatives include:
Breakdown
We're already helping convoys who are taking emergency supplies to Ukraine by giving them free European Breakdown Cover.
If you're an AA Member heading to any of the countries around Ukraine to provide humanitarian aid and you need European Breakdown Cover, just give us a call on 0800 072 3279. We're open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and 9am to 5pm on Saturday.
Drive
Volunteer driving in the UK
If your vehicle is insured with us and you'd like to use it to transport goods within the UK, there’s no need to let us know - your cover won't be impacted.
Driving in the EEA
If you're insured with us and want to deliver humanitarian aid in Europe, you only need to let us know if your trip will last longer than 90 days.
Check your policy wording for full details of what's covered when driving abroad, and make sure you familiarise yourself with any regulations when transporting goods across borders.
You'll also need to follow travel advice given by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
Your annual mileage
If you think any additional driving in the UK or abroad will impact your estimated annual mileage, you'll need to let us know. This may impact the price of your insurance.
Learn
The AA Charitable Trust has supported more than 500 Ukrainian refugees by giving them a free Drive Confident UK driving familiarisation course from AA Driving School and BSM or an eLearning module.
Drive Confident comprises of one two-hour practical driving refresher lesson with a driving instructor in their tuition car. It is designed to help qualified drivers, who have a full driving licence, get used to driving in the UK.
In Ukraine, people drive on the other side of the road, and it's unlikely that many Ukrainians will be familiar with UK signs, or restrictions like the Congestion Charge and Low Emission Zones.
We've had great feedback from those involved in the delivery of the in-car courses and hope they have helped build refugees’ confidence and help get them on the road, driving safely in the UK.
In areas where no instructor was available to deliver an in-car course, applicants were offered a free remote eLearning module, in Ukrainian, created by Drivetech instead. This online course, created especially to help Ukrainian refugees, covers all the basics of driving in the UK from smart motorways to roundabouts.
Due to over-whelming demand the scheme has now closed and we are no longer taking applications.
Our e-Learning module, in Ukrainian, can be accessed via the Drivetech website. Please go to https://www.drivetech.co.uk/global-business-fleet-solutions/drive-confident
Housing
If you’re an AA home insurance customer opening your home to people displaced by the conflict as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, there’s no need to let us know in the first 12 months - your cover will stay the same.
For added support, we’ll also:
- Treat your guests as a family member, rather than a visitor or paying guest.
- Include your guests’ belongings within your Home Contents policy limit.
- Cover loss or damage to your home or belongings caused by an insured event like fire or theft, even if one of your guests is responsible.
Jobs
We're keen to offer job opportunities to Ukrainian refugees coming to the UK. We aim to:
- Publicise contact centre, IT, Head Office and roadside vacancies to relevant agencies.
- Offer a guaranteed interview for contact centre roles to any Ukrainian refugee who meets the competency level of English required.
- Provide equipment like laptops, and support with other needs that are required to work at the AA - like broadband.
- Help ensure a smooth integration into the AA and life in the UK.
- Launch an emotional support programme through our wellbeing provider and offer existing employees the opportunity to be a ‘new best mate’ for one of the refugees, so people can make new friends.
If you'd like to find out about any of our current job opportunities, take a look at our career site, and if you have any questions, feel free to get in touch.
Signs
We're putting up temporary signs at a collection point for goods to be sent to Ukraine at Folkestone on behalf of the Kent Association of Head Teachers, completely free of charge. We provided a similar service signposting temporary community vaccination centres.
If you need some temporary signs to support efforts to get goods and supplies to Ukraine or for refugees in the UK, please contact us and we will see if we can help.
Just let us know you're helping with humanitarian efforts when you fill in the signs enquiry form.
Store
We have large offices in Basingstoke, Oldbury, Cheadle and Newcastle, so we're offering registered charities and local authorities space to store goods going to Ukraine or for refugees.
If you represent a charity or local authority and you need some storage space in these locations, please contact us.
If you have further questions about any of these initiatives, please reach out to our Public Affairs office.
Donate
We’ve made a donation to the British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal and have committed to match donations from our employees.
Visit the British Red Cross site if you'd like to donate.