The Aid to Russia Fund ( rus, Фонд помощи России) was begun in 1941 by the

Joint War Organisation The Joint War Organisation (JWO) was a combined operation of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St John of Jerusalem during the World Wars. It was first created in 1914 and ceased operations when World War I ended in 1919; the organisa ...

to assist Russians cope with the deprivations caused by

Hitler Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Germany from 1933 until his death in 1945. He rose to power as the leader of the Nazi Party, becoming the chancellor in 1933 and then ...

's advance. Mrs Clementine Churchill was appointed chairman. Around £8 million (200 million in modern funds) was raised over the course of the war, in part from contributions from the Penny-a-Week Fund. The scheme, introduced in 1939, deducted a penny from the weekly salaries of about 1,400,000 employees in 15,000 firms. The money raised helped pay for warm clothing and medical supplies. The Joint War Organisation worked with the

Trades Union Congress The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is a national trade union centre A national trade union center (or national center or central) is a federation or confederation of trade unions in a country. Nearly every country in the world has a national tra ...

, the National Council of Labour and the Mineworkers Federation to supply these items. In addition to portable X-ray units, motor X-ray units and ambulances, the following items were sent: blankets, clothes, medicines, medical equipment, and first aid kits etc.

References

External links

Aid To Russia Fund

London At War. Philip Ziegler, 2002 p. 276
Charities based in the United Kingdom {{UK-charity-stub