Newly arrived Ukrainian refugees were given a special welcome to Trafford. Dozens of Ukrainian refugees and their Trafford host families attended a ‘welcome to the borough’ event organised by several local community groups and Trafford council.
More than 120 Ukrainians gathered at Stretford Public Hall for the event on Monday June 13, organised to officially welcome them to the borough and give them all the help and advice they might need to settle in.
They were joined by members of the Greater Manchester Ukrainian community, who offered encouragement and support to help them settle into the city-region.
The gathering gave an opportunity to say thank you to the dozens of hosts who have provided places to stay for the Ukrainians escaping their war-torn country.
The event was officially opened by Trafford Mayor Coun Chris Boyes and there were speeches from council leader Coun Andrew Western, GM Mayor Andy Burnham, Ruth Lancey from the Hideaway, Bob Sopel, chairman of the Manchester branch of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain and Trafford council’s deputy chief executive Sara Saleh.
Coun Boyes said: “We appreciate wholeheartedly that you will need to be in contact with friends and relatives who have remained in the Ukraine and we will do everything possible to make that communication for you.”
Coun Western said: “We know there are many places you would rather be in your homeland and we extend our welcome and thoughts to you and your families.
“The many charitable organisations and local organisation etc here today are to help you to settle in our borough of Trafford. I want you to know we are all horrified at what is happening in the Ukraine and stand in total solidarity with you.”
The council and its partners have a support plan for those that have arrived from Ukraine in recent months – including carrying out accommodation suitability and safeguarding checks, handing out Government-funded payments to host families, arranging school places for children and referring individuals to services and support including health, benefits and jobs.
There were a number of stalls at the Public Hall event this week, offering advice to refugees on topics including health, education and benefits.
There was even live music from traditional Ukrainian musicians.
Andy Burnham said: “Just as Trafford is your new home, you are now Greater Mancunians and your home is Greater Manchester too. On behalf of everybody who lives here – our two famous football clubs as well – I’m here to say the warmest of welcomes to you all.
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“Greater Manchester has a proud history of welcoming people who are fleeing war. We will always provide safety to those in need and we have a history of welcoming those from the Ukraine.”
Sara Saleh added: “You guys have definitely brought some hope into our hearts, so when it is time to return to the Ukraine I hope you take some of Manchester back in your hearts, too. Thank you, it has been lovely to see you all.”
The Ukrainians attending the event also enjoyed meeting up with others from across their country and sharing stories.
Mother and daughter Halyna and Nataliya, who come from the Tlumach area, arrived at their home in Altrincham in April.
Nataliya said: “Everything is good in Trafford and we are really enjoying being here. My children are in school settling in well.”
Her mother explained that the family decided to move to Trafford after realising that their country was hugely unsafe and the bombing was traumatising their children.
Pasha, who comes from the city of Kharkiv, came to the welcome event with his Trafford host, Michael, from Partington.
He said he loved Trafford because it was a “beautiful mix between the old and the new.”
Andrea Lea was also at the event on Monday. She runs the Bearly Loved charity in Sale, which sends teddy bears donated in Trafford to children in Ukraine.
Children at the event this week were helping by filling in teddy bear passports before they were sent off.
