Communities come together for Ukrainian welcome events in Chester and Northwich

Hundreds of people attended two events in Chester and Northwich for Ukrainian guests and their sponsors last week.

Organised by Cheshire West and Chester Council in partnership with the Lord Mayor of Chester, Northwich Town Council and Northwich Business Improvement District (BID), the events celebrated Ukrainian culture and were full of advice and support for guests and sponsors.

The events were designed for Ukrainian guests, their sponsors, and the whole community to join the Council and its partners for advice, support and a day of Ukrainian culture.

The Council had been working with refugees and sponsors on what they would like to see at the events, which included advice and support on work, welfare, skills, training, health and more. At the events, Ukrainian guests and their sponsors were able to gain advice from Council services such as Housing, Libraries, Refugee Support, Skills and Employment, Young People’s Service and Youth Services. The events were also attended by the High Sheriff of Cheshire, Jeannie France-Hayhurst.

Other organisations providing advice and support at the events included:

• Brio – Wellbeing services
• Cheshire, Halton and Warrington Race and Equality Centre (CHAWREC)
• Cheshire Police
• Department of Work and Pensions
• DIAL West Cheshire
• Healthwatch Cheshire
• Northwich BID
• Northwich Town Council
• SHARE
• West Cheshire Foodbank
• Winsford GGO
• Work Zones

Tasters of traditional Ukrainian dishes were enjoyed by all those who attended. This included borscht, a red beet soup with vegetables and cream; dumplings with sheep cheese and potatoes; pielmieni, dumplings with meat filling; and chrust, cookies traditionally prepared during carnival period.

The crowds were also treated to Ukrainian songs and dance, including performances of Places of Happy People, Little Ukrainian with Blue Eyes, Ukrainian Folklore, Molytva/ Prayer for Ukraine, saxophone and Bandura performances, as well as the Hoverla Dance Ensemble.

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said:

“We are very pleased that the events in Chester and Northwich were a success. The community spirit and togetherness at these events was great to see, and people enjoyed some delicious food and traditional Ukrainian music. As a Council we are proud to be playing our part in welcoming people from Ukraine and are incredibly grateful for the role that our communities are playing in helping refugees to settle here in our Borough, as these events showed.”

Councillor Samantha Dixon, Leader’s Champion for Refugees, said:

“The events in Chester and Northwich were well attended and it was great that so many people were able to find them both useful and enjoyable. It was fantastic for the Council and our partners to be able to provide our Ukrainian guests and their sponsors with advice on matters such as work, skills and welfare, and let people know where they can access support and training. We want to say a big thank you to everyone involved.”

Cheshire West and Chester Council is playing its part in providing safety and shelter for people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. The Government has committed to making funding available to councils to provide support for refugees coming to the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. The Council are helping to make sure sponsors and their guests are safe and supported, that refugees have access to services like health, education, work and benefits and that Ukrainian families are supported to integrate into local communities. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor and hosting a Ukrainian guest under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, please contact the Council’s Refugee Support Team by emailing:

refugeesupport@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

Find out more about the scheme and the Council’s response to the Ukraine conflict at:

www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/ukraine

You can view all of the photos from the Chester and Northwich Ukrainian welcome events on the Council Flickr page:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cheshirewest/albums/72177720302789775

Pictured - People at the Ukrainian welcome event at Chester Town Hall on 1st October 2022.