Ukrainian welcome events to take place in Chester and Northwich

Cheshire West and Chester Council is holding two events for Ukrainian guests and their sponsors in Chester and Northwich during October.

These events will celebrate Ukrainian culture and be full of advice and support for guests and sponsors.

Ukrainian guests, their sponsors, and the whole community are invited to join the Council and its partners for advice, support and a day of Ukrainian culture at:

• Saturday 1 October, 12noon – 4.30pm – Chester Town Hall, Northgate Street, Chester, CH1 2HJ (organised in partnership with the Lord Mayor)
• Saturday 8 October, 10am – 2pm - Northwich Artisan Market, Applemarket Place, Apple Market Street, Northwich, CW9 5BB

The Council has been working with refugees and sponsors on what they would like to see at the events, which will include advice and support on work, welfare, skills, training, health and more, as well as Ukrainian food tasters and cultural activities.

Advice and support will include:

• Advice from the Department of Work and Pensions on work and welfare.
• Support from Cheshire West and Chester Workzones regarding skills, training, support and getting into jobs.
• Community and voluntary organisations will provide advice and support for guests.

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

“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. These events are a great opportunity to foster that community spirit and togetherness and provide a continued warm welcome for our Ukrainian guests.”

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

“The events in Chester and Northwich are great opportunities for our Ukrainian guests and their sponsors to get advice on matters such as work, skills and welfare, and to find out where they can access support and training. We encourage all of our residents to come along and get involved to sample tasty Ukrainian food and find out more about Ukrainian culture.”

Cheshire West and Chester Council is playing its part in providing safety and shelter for people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. The borough has a proud history of welcoming refugees and others seeking sanctuary and we are doing what we can to support Ukrainian people at this time of crisis.

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.

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

www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/ukraine