Love Your Neighbour Hubs across the country are hosting and delivering various social transformation programmes geared towards welcoming and supporting Ukrainians. Here’s a bit of what’s been taking place.

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Pattern Church, Swindon

In Swindon, Pattern Church launched The Table - a weekly dinner for Ukrainians arriving in Swindon and the surrounding area. In partnership with Swindon Borough Council and Swindon Welcomes Ukraine, their aim is for people to make friends, eat together and build community. Listen to this BBC Radio report about The Table.

Holy Trinity Brompton, London

Around 250 Ukrainians attend a weekly drop-in café, with a food bank, toiletries, games and crafts for children…

In London, our HTB Hub have launched a Love Ukraine programme in partnership with Support Ukraine and the Ukrainian Social Club. Around 250 Ukrainians attend a weekly drop-in café, with a food bank, toiletries, games and crafts for children. Mobile phone SIM cards and Oyster cards for new arrivals have also been made available. English lessons taught by Ukrainian volunteers run throughout the afternoons.

Around 250 Ukrainians attend a weekly drop-in café, with a food bank, toiletries, games and crafts for children.

B&A Church, Bristol

At our Love Your Neighbour Bristol Hub, B&A Church have been hosting a Ukraine Welcome Hub where Ukrainians staying in the local area can gather to share experiences. They report: ‘There’s a real buzz and sense of relief as people find others facing similar challenges who speak their language. Newcomers arrive looking tense and nervous and leave smiling, with bunches of flowers we’ve been giving out.’

“There’s a real buzz and sense of relief as people find others facing similar challenges who speak their language.”

Destiny Church, Glasgow

In Glasgow, Destiny Church is providing lunch for their Ukrainian guests, as well as access to their Community Grocer and Café. To further support them with wrap-around care, they are running a Introduction to Mental Health and Trauma recovery six-week workshop for Ukrainian mums – this will involve free counselling and childcare support.

Emmaus Road, Guilford

Emmaus Road launched a Ukraine Support Hub which is open twice a week and so far welcomes 60 refugees to each session. They’re collaborating with agencies like Citizens Advice, DWP, mental health charities, and the local council to provide a range of signposting and support. They’ve also opened their Jigsaw Children’s Hub for stay and play sessions, created a teenager drop-in zone in ‘The Cosy’ social enterprise café, and are quickly adapting to other needs coming through the door by delivering English classes, a clothing and children’s equipment bank, cooking and dance classes, and much more.

Anna*, a Ukrainian mother attending the cafe explained:

‘The kind of support we get at the church is emotional and kind. It’s very helpful to be with other Ukrainians to exchange advice and to realise that everyone is going through the same thing. When we step out of places like this, it’s very difficult to get the right support – because whenever you go to the local council, everyone speaks English.
We need help navigating the bureaucracy of the UK systems. For example, I am trying to get my daughters into school, but we don’t know how long it will take, or even if they are properly registered.
In a completely new country, not knowing the language and trying to navigate the system, you can feel very alone. It’s very tough.‘
(*Names have been changed to protect identity)
Maria*, a volunteer at the Ukrainian Social Club:

‘Practically, the biggest need is housing and food, but when they arrive, there is a lot of trauma and stress from the journey. Having a community that speaks Ukrainian is important, a place where people can answer their questions and to know there is somewhere that they can relax and be safe in.’
Kate*, one of the hosts at a Ukraine Welcome Hub at B&A Bristol

‘Opportunities have come up to help people in practical ways with CVs, job hunting and we’re looking to start English lessons. We’ve invited everyone to a supper club to create a space for deeper conversations and there’s been real enthusiasm about the idea - those coming are keen to help and someone from our community whose Grandmother was from Ukraine offered to come and make his family borscht recipe. We’re so excited to be able to love and support those here.’

None of this work can happen without our Love Your Neighbour Hubs, and we are so grateful for those of you who have donated and volunteered your time to support Ukrainian refugees at this time.

To find out more about partnering with us as a Love Your Neighbour Hub, please contact our Hubs Team. Or if you’d like to support the work of Love Ukraine, please donate or contact our Partnerships Team for further information.

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