A midwife is taking part in a documentary about the lived experience of children in Ukraine amid the ongoing war with Russia.

Wendy Warrington, 57, from Tottington, has been working closely with award-winning filmmaker and producer Joshua Good to share candid, first-person perspectives from children in Ukraine.

While filming, Joshua also captured the incredible humanitarian work being carried out by Wendy, who has family in Poland and teaches midwifery at Bolton and Salford universities.

The grandmother-of-six has taken more than 20 trips to Ukraine and Poland to deliver containers filled with food and medical supplies to places most badly affected by the ongoing conflict, including high-risk areas of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia.

Wendy has also delivered 20 incubators for premature babies in the past 12 months.

Joshua produced a taster preview of his documentary, Voice of the Child, in May which he describes as “unflinching, honest and rigorously journalistic”.

It premiered at a free event held at the Polish Social Centre in Bury last month and raised £130 in donations.

Wendy said: “It [the taster film] was well received and we now hope to have an even bigger showing at some point so that even more people can see what we’re doing.

“These stories need to be told and it’s very humbling that people want to help us do it.

“Listening to children talking about bombs going off, Russian soldiers being in their houses and having their dad killed in war is a heavy reminder that those poor kids are living in a very different world to what my own grandchildren are living in.”

Joshua, who has made films all over the world including in Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia, the United States and Australia, said: “Last year, I was having chemotherapy for lymphoma and made a promise to myself that if I got through it, I would make films that matter to me.

“When the war first broke out, I was angry and horrified. I wanted to tell that story through the voices of those being impacted directly.

“I’ve spent 30 years making more generic films and now it’s time to focus on this.

“A friend had seen Wendy's appearance on Good Morning Britain and suggested that I get in touch.

“I came up from London for a chat and two weeks later, I was heading to Ukraine via Poland with Wendy for 12 days delivering incubators and meeting the children.”

He is now pitching the full-scale observational documentary to broadcasters in the hope of it being commissioned, which will focus on an underground bomb-proof school which Wendy supports in the city of Zaporizhzhiawhich. 

Joshua added: “They have more than 450 students who are due to start in September and have an uncertain year ahead.

“Although it’s a remarkable place for children to carry on learning, it’s also a stark reminder of what war does to the most innocent.

“The time is right to make it [the documentary] happen. This war is taking place just a few hours away from the UK and we should all be concerned.”

This week, Wendy and Joshua got back on the road to deliver more aid and continue capturing the real life issues being faced by those in Ukraine, which is partially supported by a GoFundMe appeal.

Wendy has delivered 20 incubators in the past 12 months (supplied)Wendy has delivered 20 incubators in the past 12 months (Image: supplied)

Wendy said: “At first, I was worried about us being able to fill one van but now we have two van loads containing more than £12,000 worth of medical aid and baby food which is phenomenal.”

“It is volatile over there and can be risky, but we still go in. I’m committed to this work and want to make sure everything gets to where it needs to go."

Midwifes from Bolton University came together and donated a collection of baby items towards to the appeal.

Tottington Rotary Club donated £500 and Amazon provided £3,000 worth of baby food and nappies.

Tottington Townswomen’s Guild put together baby boxes made up of knitted hats, blankets, baby grows, dummies, muslin cloths, bibs, mittens and knitted toys.

Wendy added: “Every day, there is something going on. I have lost close friends who were killed over there [in Ukraine].

“I might be just Wendy from Bury but I am making a difference. I don’t over promise and if I say I’ll do something, I do it.

“I don’t take any money for it. I pay for my own travel, accommodation and living expenses. I’m a midwife at heart and want to help babies everywhere.

“I do the work I do so my grandchildren can be proud and hopefully grow up to help people.”