大象传媒

Fiona is a well-to-do, retired head teacher in her early 70s in rural Cambridgeshire who is very keen to 鈥渁dopt鈥� 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鈥檚 the same as when they tried to get a Syrian - 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 get one for love nor money.鈥�

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鈥檚 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鈥檛 understand how Stan passed any of the 鈥渟uitable accommodation鈥� 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鈥檚 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鈥檚, 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鈥機allaghan
A Big Fish Radio production for 大象传媒 Radio 4