For Love Nor Money

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Fiona’s determination to host Ukrainian refugees is causing problems with her neighbours.

Fiona, determined to host Ukrainian refugees and frustrated by the system, decides to take the law into her own hands.

Fiona is a well-to-do, retired head teacher in her early 70s in rural Cambridgeshire who is very keen to “adopt” a Ukrainian. She has signed up for the Homes for Ukraine scheme but has been frustrated by the lack of assistance in finding someone to match with. She concludes that with the Ukrainians, it’s the same as when they tried to get a Syrian - “You can’t get one for love nor money.”

Fiona is horrified to discover that Stan, a builder who lives in her village, has secured an entire family of Ukrainians via his informal networks. Stan’s wife Michelle is rarely around for reasons that are unclear and his children have grown up and are rarely in the house. So Fiona can’t understand how Stan passed any of the “suitable accommodation” checks since, in her eyes, he is more or less a single man. She wonders how to report all this to the authorities - and perhaps transfer the Ukrainians to her care. Meanwhile she has started to cook Ukrainian dishes and take them round to Stan’s house, in a bid to curry favour with the guests themselves - and to spy on Stan. 

But when we hear from Stan and the Ukrainians, slowly the true picture becomes clear. 

So when Donna from the local authority, and old school-mate of Michelle’s, comes knocking and asking questions, how can the Ukrainians protect their own interests - and protect Stan? 

For Love Nor Money is a radio play about attitudes to Ukrainian refugees by Viv Groskop.

Cast:
Fiona ..... Susan Jameson
Donna ..... Jane Slavin
Stan	..... Chris Simmons
Oksana ..... Viv Groskop
Sarah ..... Melody Grove

Directed by Eoin O’Callaghan 
A Big Fish Radio production for BBC Radio 4

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