Indian-origin entrepreneur Lord Raj Loomba is raising funds over £60,000 to help families fleeing the war-torn Ukraine to start afresh in the UK, through his foundation that was created for the upliftment of widows in India.
The Loomba Foundation, which was set up to honour Raj’s widowed mother around 25 years ago, is dedicated to improving the lives of widows across India. At foundation’s 25th anniversary, a fundraising drive was launched with the children’s charity Barnardo’s in London to attract donations to help 1000 families.
“I was extremely touched by the generosity of our supporters in aid of women and their dependents fleeing Ukraine and I am calling on anyone in a position to give what they can as we work with Barnardo’s to provide urgent help to families settling in the UK,” Lord Loomba was quoted as telling PTI.
Each Ukranian family settling in the UK will be issued a £100 voucher that can be spent in any of Barnardo’s 630 physical stores or online on essential items including clothing, toys and furnishings.
Lord Raj Loomba was born in Punjab and did his education from DAV College Jallandhar. After his family moved to England in 1962, he built a fashion business from scratch, which now has over 200 retail outlets across the UK. A philanthropist and a chairman of Loomba Group, he is also a member of the House of Lords.