Ukraine to Chilterns Charity

Hallmak November 2022. Ukraine To Chilterns Charity. Report by Louisa Spearing

As we head towards winter, many of our Ukrainian guests have been living within our community for six months or more. Indeed, Ukraine to Chilterns has been operating for 8 months and the time has flown by.

We are delighted to announce that we are now ‘official’. After months of challenging work behind the scenes from our treasurer Caroline Gulliver, Ukraine to Chilterns is now a registered charity with a bank account! This is incredibly good news and allows us to fully support our Ukrainian community and their hosts. Our numbers currently stand at 192 Ukrainians staying with 75 host families.

Back to School. Following an incredibly busy summer schedule, our thriving Ukrainian community continue to fully embrace life in the UK. Our September focus was, like for so many, ‘back to school’, so the amazing team at The Clothes Barn have been working hard sorting out the latest generous donations and supplying grants for new school uniforms and comfortable warm clothes. The grants have been kindly funded by The Rotary Club, Princes Risborough.

Oksana s story. We gratefully attended a fantastic benefit concert held in Speen, where we were given the opportunity to highlight the work of the charity; we invited Oksana to join us to share her story.

Oksana and her daughter Maria arrived in Princes Risborough in April, leaving her husband, son, and apartment in Irpin that was devastated by a missile on March 17th. Now fully embracing life in the UK, Oksana’s goal is to launch her interior design business in the UK. The incredibly talented contemporary folk singer, Grainne Hunt entertained us through the evening and kindly dedicated a song to Oksana. Thank you Speen for your support, it really is making a difference.

Possible returns. During August and September, several of our guest families returned to the Ukraine to see their loved ones. Despite the insidious threat of further destructive action, it was a period of relative calm in many of the areas that our guests are from and perhaps lulled us all into a false sense of security.

Several of the local families had even begun making plans to return home permanently. The events of early October have been sudden, viscous and terrifying for our guests. It has made any return to their homes very unlikely in the short term. The need to continue to support these refugees within our community remains as important as ever.

Local links. As a charity, we have an array of challenges and we are working incredibly hard to mitigate these. We have forged strong links with many of the local community groups and Bucks Council.

The unerring generosity of these groups and individuals locally has been heartwarming. Both the trustees of Ukraine to Chilterns Charity and those that we support are overwhelmed with gratitude for it.

Accommodation. One of our major issues is finding alternative accommodation for families who need to move elsewhere after their initial six months. This situation is difficult for all concerned and is almost always the result of a change in circumstance for one of the parties involved. As you can imagine there are no easy fixes for this and it is further compounded by the lack of available rental properties and the Jong waiting lists for social housing.

Rematching. Our solution has been to re-match our guests. We have had considerable success with this method and other groups like ours are adopting the idea. The benefits are clear; a re-matched sponsor does not have the headache of registering and creating bank accounts with their guests, as this has already been done. The guest already has a social network locally and in most cases an income. The children are settled within school and their language acquisition is vastly improved from their arrival.

One such success story is of a guest and her two children who were recently re-matched with a local widower. The children, particularly the youngest who is only 4, have begun to refer to their new sponsor as their grandfather! The host and the guests have enhanced each other's lives and the family is secure for at least another six months.

If you feel that being a re-matched sponsor is something you may be interested in, we would be very happy to talk with you, answer your questions and introduce you to others that can tell you their stories. Please contact Lizzie Thomas-Davies on lizzie@thomas-davies.com or visit our website, to register an interest www.ukraine2chilterns.com

Summer trips. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Janet Voke, Sarah Halliday and Motts Travel who organised and provided the transport for our excellent local trips over the summer.

A group of forty Ukrainian families enjoyed a variety of heritage sites over three days in the holidays. They visited Tyringham Hall, Ascott House and the Chiltern Open Air Museum, it was a resounding success.

The photo opposite shows Greg Smith, MP, and the guests during the trip to Tyringham Hall, Cuddington.

The Beacon and SuperCamps hosted thirty of our guest children aged between 5 and 13 for two weeks over the summer holidays. The children had a fabulous time and their English learning improved immensely! This was a hugely generous Opportunity and we thank the Beacon School in Amersham wholeheartedly.

Community support. The Princes Risborough Rotary supported the charity to run a stall at the Kop Hill Climb and sponsored several Ukrainian youngsters in the ‘soapbox Challenge’ It was a brilliant weekend.

We continue to run our busy autumn/winter schedule and shout out a plea for anyone who is interested in getting involved. We particularly hope to find more host families and other local accommodation options including rooms for rent, to help us ensure our Ukrainian friends can continue to stay in this area whilst Putin continues to wage war on these innocent people.

For more information and details on how to get in touch please visit our website and fill in our contact form (the website is currently being updated so please bear with us) Ukraine2chilterns.com

Ukrainian soapbox. Each year at The Kop Hill Climb Festival, there is an event known as the Soapbox Challenge. This runs over the weekend and is for young people aged between 8 and 17 years of age. The idea is that they help build a soapbox from ‘bits and pieces’ like old bike wheels and other scrap.

This year there were 11 soapbox teams. Of these we had 3 Ukrainian teams:

– Crazy Frog - driven by Stella, Danya and Olga

– Ice Spirit - driven by Dan, Yarik, Nikita and Sofia

– Start Ukraine - driven by Maria, Yegor, Nikita and Andrei

The soapboxes are taken to the top of a ramp, the driver gets in and when the track is clear, the start marshals release it. The track is marked out with straw bales and a good run will be more than 70 meters from the start.

The only power is gravity and the winner of the competition is determined by the team that can go the furthest. The best run of day 1 being added to the best run of day 2.

Of the 3 teams, Ice Spirit did the best, coming in third overall, but all of the teams were fantastic, helping to create a great competition and some great moments. Also, grateful thanks to Yuri who pushed soapboxes up the ramp, tirelessly over the 2 days and to the Princes Rotary for their sponsorship.

We are already planning for 2023 and aim to have Soapbox open day at the Repair Barn to encourage young people to come and have a go, building and preparing a Soapbox for the competition.

Hallmark May 2023. Ukraine To Chilterns

Our excellent community remains very active in providing generous support and succour to our Ukrainian guests. Practical support has been given through helping stock the Clothes Barn with plenty of new season clothing, through generous donations made from money raised at local events, through giving up time and expertise to help at our Creative Conversation Classes, supporting English acquisition and mindfulness through creating crafts.

It is remarkable to think that our Ukrainian guests have been amongst us for a year. The first anniversary of Putin’s barbaric invasion was commemorated locally on 24th February by a candlelit vigil held in Duke Street Gardens, Princes Risborough. Many attended to show solidarity alongside our Ukrainian guests who, poignantly, sang in Ukrainian while messages of support and love were tied to a ‘Garland of Hope’.

The vigil was opened by the Town Mayor, Andy Ball and attended by other dignitaries – Member of Parliament, Greg Smith, Princes Risborough local Councillors, Faith Leaders, the community of the town and many more besides. All wholeheartedly expressing their support for Ukraine.

One of our guests, Natasha Kuraptseva, writes:

Unfortunately, war is still going on, and both the defenders of our country and innocent, peaceful people are dying every day. 2022 was a black page in the history of the Ukrainian people and of Europe in the 21st century.

This insidious and murderous invasion has continued for a year. Every family that arrived in Britain has had its trials. Words of fear and confusion were heard in almost every family during those first days:

– Go to the corridor! – These are the first words that a young girl heard from her mother in the morning.

– But they did not dare to go further, – and within a week we cried every day from fear.

– Go, exchange all the hryvnias for dollars, we're going to Poland, – and we didn't go anywhere, because in the first days it was almost impossible to leave Kyiv, cars formed a continuous traffic jam.

– Mommy, what's going on, what's that sound? - the son covered his ears with his palms.

Such words, we heard in those first days, heralding the start of our story of fear and suffering.

Now, thousands of kilometres from home, everyone who joined the candlelight vigil stood together – both Ukrainians and Britons, standing in solidarity in these difficult times.

The Charity organisation ‘Ukraine to Chilterns’ organised and funded this event. This organisation also provided equipment for the event: candles with convenient holders and a card to write your messages of hope and peace for the anniversary. There were even white doves of peace, hand-painted by Ukrainians and British together at one of the Creative Conversation master classes. Warm words and sincere hugs included for free and for everyone.

In a matter of minutes, the big tree in the square received the Garland of Hope. Wishes were written by the guests and tied to the garland:

"For the war to end sooner", "For us – to return home", "For Ukraine to be free", "To hear and sing the national anthem in our native country", "To see and hug dad", "To visit grandma and grandpa"...

You are happy to be safe now, say the British.

Yes, how happy we are, the Ukrainians answer, swallowing tears.

It was lucky that we reached distant Britain safe and sound, and here, thanks to the fact that there were real people everywhere lighting candles as hot as hearts, we are Safe.

After Andy Ball’s opening speech, Sofiia, a Ukrainian guest only 17 years old, gave a sensitive and sad speech to her compatriots. Inspirational words from the heart made many of us long for the Motherland and we felt pride for our country inspired by Sofia’s words.

The whole world said that we would not last three days.

We have been standing for a year.

We are brave. We are resilient. We dare Ukrainians!

Hallmark May 2023. Ukrainian Cookery. Report by Sarah Halliday

On the evening of the 28^th March, our local charity, ‘Ukraine to Chilterns’, hosted a cookery demonstration at St Johns School, Lacey Green.

Nine lovely ladies, Viola, Elena, Anya, Natasha, Nadiia, Olha, Alina, Halyna and Sophiia, from our Ukrainian community prepared and cooked traditional Ukrainian fayre.

Our guests thoroughly enjoyed sampling delicious hearty dishes such as Borscht, Varenyky, banosh, beetroot salad, syrnyk (type of cheesecake) and honey cake, in fact we almost ate a full 3 course meal!

Viola and Elena were able to narrate through the demonstration very confidently and professionally, like true ‘TV’ chefs, they said they almost felt like celebrities!

All the ladies had put in a fantastic effort in organising the event and even delighted us with some singing at the end of the evening. Some of the guests were lucky to have scooped up some wonderful Ukrainian craft prizes in the raffle.

Thank you very much to all our guests, participants, David Bundock, and Chloe Gardner, at the school, for supporting our charity and enabling us to put on this very worthwhile event.

Here is a sample of one of the traditional Ukrainian dishes for those who missed the demonstration. Varenyky, dumplings made with dough, similar to ravioli.

Hallmark August 2023. Ukraine To Chilterns. Report by Louisa Spearing

Revellers at Princes Risborough’s summer festival fun, on 1st July, may have noticed the Ukraine to Chilterns Stall, bedecked with sunflowers with blues and yellows in abundance. We offered sunflower seedlings in pretty pots, homemade baked goods and Borscht, as well as artwork by Sofiia, one of our 18 year old Guests. The day was a huge hit with everybody and the Guests thoroughly enjoyed meeting lots of local friends, old and new.

lf you did miss us and, quite understandably you have a burning desire to try some delicious Borscht and Varenyky, then you can see us again at the Kop-Hill Climb on 16th and 17^th September and at Farmers Markets in Princes Risborough throughout the year.

Following a hugely successful Ukrainian Cookery Demonstration at St John’s School in April, we are organising a fabulous fundraising event on Friday 29th September at the Millennium Hall.

The evening will allow you to experience a Ukrainian Feast, with traditional singing and dancing, followed by a Barn Dance. Tickets are available at info@ukraine2chilterns.com Early Bird tickets will be £35 per head or £250 for a table of 8. Please contact us asap to assure your place!

As always, thank you for all your support.

Hallmark February 2024. Ukraine To Chilterns. Report by Louisa Spearing

Over the last few months we have all been aware of other conflicts raging across the world. Wars leave heavy burdens of loss and horror, leaving devastation in their wake, and achieving nothing. By standing alongside our brave Ukrainian refugees and helping them to find safety and build a life in the UK, we are standing in defiance of all wars and the perpetrators of them.

It is remarkable to think that our Ukrainian guests have been amongst us for nearly two years. The second anniversary of Putin's barbaric invasion will be marked locally on 24th February by a candlelit vigil held at St Mary's Church, Princes Risborough. Afterwards, our Ukrainian community will provide food to share as a thank you. Beverages will also be available for a donation; all at St Mary’s Church Hall.

The vigil will be opened by the Princes Risborough Town Mayor, Andy Ball, and attended by other dignitaries – Members of Parliament, Princes Risborough local Councillors, Faith Leaders and by many members of our thriving Ukrainian Community. We hope that many of you can attend to show solidarity alongside our guests too.

One of our guests, Natasha Kuraptseva, writes:

Unfortunately, war is still going on, and both the defenders of our country and innocent, peaceful people are dying every day. 2022, and now 2023 too, are black pages in the history of the Ukrainian people and of Europe in the 21st century.

It was lucky that we reached distant Britain safe and sound, and here, thanks to the fact that there were real people everywhere lighting candles as hot as hearts, we are safe.

The whole world said that we would not last three days.

We have been standing for two years.

We are brave. We are resilient.

We are Ukrainians!