Scotland based Siobhan’s Trust is to hive off its “significant aid operation”, handing out oven baked pizzas to war ravaged communities in Ukraine, to create a new charity.

Its work in the war-torn country will now be delivered by a new charity called HopeFull.

Meanwhile, Siobhan Trust, which was set up in memory of the late Countess of Dundee in 2020, will focus on supporting young people in Scotland as well as other overseas work.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago the charity had switched its focus to supporting conflict impacted communities providing oven them with baked pizzas as well as help.

This has seen then feed and support up to 5,000 people a day and overall it has served 1.5m pizzas to Ukrainians across the country.

“The Trustees believe the time is now right for Siobhan’s Trust to return to its roots,” said the charities.

“But, as the war in Ukraine rages on and the need for on-the-ground support remains intense, the Trustees equally believe that this vital work should continue, uninterrupted.

“HopeFull’s mission will be to continue to provide hope to war-torn and disaster-struck communities by serving up a simple meal of pizza, delivered with warmth and compassion.

“The support from dedicated volunteers on the ground and the boost to morale it provides offers significant hope to communities across Ukraine.”

They add that the “name and work of Siobhan’s Trust will remain and be transferred to a different charitable entity, returning to its original purposes as a family trust based near Dundee, where it will be run by the immediate family of Siobhan Dundee”.

HopeFull is being led by chief executive Troels Henriksen. Its head of field operations is Tom Hughes and David Fox-Pitt, Ian Jamieson and Christ McIntosh have been appointed as trustees.

Fox-Pitt said: “The new charity of HopeFull reflects our passion and purpose, and we are committed to supporting these communities for as long as it takes. As well as, looking to the future, wherever the need may be in the world.”

Siobhan’s Trust founder Alexander Dundee added: “We are very proud of the work we have done in Ukraine. Supporting vulnerable communities is at the core of our beliefs. Therefore when the invasion took place we wanted to stand by those communities to do what we could.

“This work must continue, and Siobhan’s Trust are very glad that the HopeFull team are now in place to ensure a seamless transition.”

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