
Coleen Rooney says Unicef support for Ukrainian families is a ‘lifeline'
Coleen Rooney has said Unicef support for Ukrainian families has been a 'lifeline' that is 'changing lives'.
The media personality recently travelled to Poland with Unicef to see how Soccer Aid donations have directly supported Ukrainian families who were forced to flee their homes.
The 39-year-old said she could not 'imagine' what Ukrainian refugee families must be going through, emphasising how important it is to stand with them.
She said: 'I can relate to being a mum and the first thing (you would do) in that situation is to get out of danger, to make sure that the kids are OK and we can find somewhere.
'I couldn't imagine what was going through their heads… the emotions.'
While in Krakow she visited the Spilno Hub, which helps families find accommodation and offers access to a range of services such as psychosocial support and legal assistance.
The Unicef-run centre has helped people such as Yuliia Karpenko, her sister Olisia and Yuliia's four-year-old daughter Anastasiia 'Nastia' who were forced to flee Ukraine with just one bag on an evacuation train.
She said: 'Hearing about the lasting effect the war in Ukraine has had on Yuliia and her family will stay with me for a long time.
'Her determination to create a safe and supportive community for her family in Poland really shone through.
'Thanks to Unicef, she's been able to meet other mums, learn Polish and find work in a kitchen.
'And her daughter, Nastia, has been able to make friends with other children and spend time playing, just as any four-year-old should.
'It was a privilege meeting Yuliia and her family and to see how money raised by Soccer Aid for Unicef really is changing lives.
'Leaving their home and not knowing when they'll be able to return was so hard for them.
'But spending time at the Spilno Hub has helped them to feel safe.
'It supports families who've fled the war in Ukraine in so many ways.
'It's a very special place.'
During the trip, Rooney visited the Education Rehabilitation Centre, a specialist school funded by the children's organisation which supports young people with disabilities.
There she met a young autistic boy, Murat, who could not talk when they first left Ukraine and has since been able to say a few words.
She said: 'It's such a calming place and the teachers there are so supportive and caring.
'Kateryna (Murat's mother) told me that the changes she's seen in Murat have been incredible.
'When they left Ukraine he wasn't able to talk but he's now started to say some words and can communicate with other children too.
'She said that when they arrived in Poland she felt hopeless but, thanks to Unicef, she can now see a future there for them.'
Donations made to Soccer Aid for Unicef will be doubled this year up to £5 million thanks to the Children's Investment Fund Foundation.
Rooney said: 'As a mum myself, I couldn't help but think of my own boys when I met children like Nastia and Murat.
'Seeing them smile and play despite everything they've been through was incredibly moving.
'Hearing their stories really reminded me how important it is that we stand with families who've been through so much, every child deserves a safe space to play – as a parent this is all you want for your child.'

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Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Sam Thompson cries ahead of Soccer Aid with ex Zara's new love Louis Tomlinson
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Telegraph
10 hours ago
- Telegraph
Soccer Aid 2025: When is it, team lineups and how to watch on TV
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Leonardo Bonucci Former Italy footballer who played for AC Milan and Juventus. He will be looking to get another trophy against England having beaten them at Wembley in the European Championship final in 2021. Tobi Brown Star of YouTube group the Sidemen. Brown – or TBJZL as he is known online – is a Manchester United supporter making his debut appearance at Soccer Aid. His Sidemen counterpart Simon Minter made an appearance in 2024. Martin Compston Former professional footballer and actor, Compton is known for his role in Line of Duty. The lifelong Celtic supporter has featured in previous editions of Soccer Aid. Richard Gadd Actor and writer known for his part in creating the Netflix hit series Baby Reindeer. Gadd is an avid supporter of Dundee United. He is making his debut for the World XI. Bryan Habana Former rugby star is best known for guiding South Africa to 2007 World Cup glory. 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Scotsman
12 hours ago
- Scotsman
Notable victory for Steve Clarke as Scotland boss on cusp of outright record - but hold the hosannas
4-0 win may not silence detractors but there was cause for optimism Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Victory in Vaduz, a hat-trick for Che Adams and relief for Steve Clarke. Such brief match reports do not really fit the bill in a newspaper - or even online. But these were the major takeaways for Scotland and principally their manager following a 4-0 victory over Liechtenstein. Clarke knew he could ill afford anything less than a straightforward win, which is what this was against a country ranked 205 in the world. Hold the hosannas, however. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Some might contend that little else ought to be derived from this one-sided contest high in the Alps. It did at least supply some closure after a sometimes torrid 12 months for the men's international team and took Clarke onto the 71-match mark as manager, which means he has drawn level at the top with Craig Brown (Brown also had one extra match as caretaker). Che Adams scores his and Scotland's second goal en route to netting a hat-trick in the 4-0 win over Liechtenstein in Vaduz. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images) | DeFodi Images via Getty Images Clarke will move into the outright first position in this list of permanent Scotland managers when he leads the national side into World Cup qualifying in the Autumn. According to some, the miserable home friendly defeat to Iceland on Friday night, which came hard on the heels of a comprehensive reversal against Greece at Hampden in March, was further proof that he should not be given this responsibility. Even now, there will be many who believe someone else should lead Scotland. A comfortable win over Liechtenstein will not necessarily alter their view. Despite such strength of feeling, the only person departing will be John Carver. Clarke has confirmed that his assistant coach has signed a full-time contract with Polish club Lechia. Vaduz, where this match took place, is not so very far from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where Scotland were just settling in this time last year following their arrival at their scenic Euro 2024 base. Clarke's side didn't humiliate the opposition quite like what was visited on them by Germany in the opening game of those finals but the same margin of victory must be gladly accepted nonetheless. There were some points worth noting other than the headline observations, with Adams scoring Scotland's first hat-trick since a John McGinn treble against San Marino six years ago (and first in a friendly for nearly 60 years, since Colin Stein struck four times in a friendly v Cyprus in 1967). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Torino striker completed this in timely fashion – his header from substitute Tommy Conway's cross was the last action of the match. Scotland went out on a high. It might not be a case of roll on next season, and an away double-header against Denmark and Belarus, but some optimism exists. Lennon Miller made an impressive full debut for Scotland in the 4-0 win over Liechtenstein. | SNS Group Motherwell teen a welcome addition Lennon Miller made an impressive full debut, where he distinguished himself with an assist and further caught the eye with intelligent flicks and a willingness to move the ball around quickly. He always seemed to be in position to receive a pass. It is hard to believe he is just 18-years-old although easy to see why Motherwell made him captain last season. Another midfielder might not be what Scotland desperately need but he is a welcome addition to the list of options. A striker, meanwhile, is on the list of desirable additions. George Hirst followed up his lively performance against Iceland with a goalscoring one here. He was unfortunate to be denied a goal on Friday following a VAR review that confirmed Scott McTominay had strayed offside in the build-up. Clarke later commented that he could have had a hat-trick, having been denied by two good saves while missing another good chance with a header over. While it was his strike partner Adams who got the hat-trick on this occasion – and isn't it good to be able to use the term 'strike partner' in relation to Scotland – Hirst will be happy enough to simply get off the mark in a Scotland shirt. It's now a case of three strikers with a reasonable chance of leading the line next time out against Denmark – Adams, Hirst or Lyndon Dykes. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The first-named, though, surely remains in pole position having significantly improved his goal ratio statistics, which, before kick-off, stood at one in his last 19 international appearances. This record is now a slightly more respectable four in 20. It was a better start for Scotland than on Friday, when they lost goalkeeper Angus Gunn to injury in the opening minutes. Here they started like a team wishing to address some issues. Adams thrashed in the opener after four minutes following a corner that was won by Hirst. Miller's miscued effort when the ball was partially cleared landed at Adams' feet from a deflection and he rifled a shot into the goal with a venom that spoke of some pent-up anger. He had Miller to thank for his second after 25 minutes, with the teenager reacting well after a poor pass from 'keeper Benjamin Buchel had put Nicolas Hasler under pressure. Miller dispossessed the skipper and offloaded to Adams, whose finish wrong-footed Buchel. Hirst's goal was a typical No 9's and arrived just three minutes after half-time. He swept in at the back post after Adams helped on Tony Ralston's cross after a McGinn effort had hit the post and rebounded out. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Emergency call-up 'keeper Ross Doohan might as well have still been on that beach in Turkey. Never mind breaking out of their own half, Liechtenstein could barely emerge from within an area around 30 yards from their own goal-line. Doohan does, though, have a cap to his name now, which is something very worthwhile from this strange period where he is suspended between being an Aberdeen player and a Celtic one. He was happy to see an effort from wing-back Kenny Kindle drift by his far post shortly before half-time.