How we can help

Some of the things we do to make your stay easier

Welcome  Events

We host “Welcome” events to help our guests settle in and to integrate with the local community and with other Ukrainian families who have joined our community.

Volunteers

We now have over 140 offers of support and 34 hosts.  Local residents have offered to provide help with a wide variety services, including:

  • Accommodation
  • Employment
  • English lessons
  • Transport
  • Fundraising
  • Interpreting
  • Technology
  • Activities for families

Social Activities

Our local communities are very active and provide social activities for parents with young children and for older children. Children are at the centre of the community.

Hilltops Ukrainian Support Community

Community Activities

Unbreakable Dinner – 24 February 2023

To mark the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine our community gathered together for a dinner at Ballinger Hall. Natalia Sushko gave a moving speech.

See the speech and press article here:

Evening Get Togethers

The Ballinger Memorial Hall “Get Togethers” are proving very popular with our guests. The evening is spent with lively food preparation and then eating and chatting together in the hall.

Library Books in Ukrainian

Коса

Летиція Коломбані

Buckinghamshire Library

  • For children the library has board books, picture books, chapter books/easy readers, junior fiction and non-fiction.
  • For adults they have fiction and non-fiction books, including large print, audio and eAudio. They also have a selection of “quick reads” (short books written by bestselling authors that have been created specifically for adults to improve their reading skills).
  • With their library card, customers can access for free GoCitizen.co.uk, an online study resource for candidates preparing for the Life in the UK test or British citizenship test. It contains the latest official study materials licensed from the Home Office, hundreds of practice test questions in the same format as the official test and additional interactive learning resources and teaching aids.
  • Customers can also access Theory Test Pro, an online simulation of the UK’s driving theory tests for all vehicle categories. Again translation into Ukrainian is an option.

Housing

Jeff's House
Our community has received many offers from local families to host Ukrainian families. Each sponsor has committed to hosting you for a minimum of six months. You will not be charged any rent, you may however be expected to cover the costs of food and living expenses. All sponsor’s houses will be checked by the Council to make sure they are safe, warm, comfortable and suitable for you and your family1. All our guests will have their own bedrooms and will have access to the internet, Wi-Fi, and TV. Host families and local support group members will assist with transport and access to local services such as a library, shops, doctors, schools, nurseries and English language learning. We have also established links with Ukrainian nationals, already settled in this area of the UK, who will help us foster a greater understanding of your needs and be of valuable assistance to you as you settle here. The priority will be to provide a safe place for you to live. Both the Council and our community will help you with finding schools, healthcare, classes for adults, claiming benefits or gaining employment. Our community will also respond to the immediate need for clothing, toiletries, toys etc. 1According to Buckinghamshire Council’s welcome pack – Important information for your arrival in Buckinghamshire.