Ukranian families escaping the horrors of war in their homeland are now living in a town centre hotel.
South Lanarkshire Council confirmed refugees are staying at the Ramada Hotel in East Kilbride temporarily before being moved on to more suitable accomodation throughout Scotland.
Lanarkshire Live understands more than 50 people - most of whom are women and children aged from three to 15 - are currently residing at the four star hotel, but the numbers change 'daily'.
The scheme is part of the UK Government's Ukrainian resettlement programme that allow individuals, charities, community groups and businesses in the UK to bring Ukranians to safety.
The local authority assured it provides "intensive support" to ensure the families have a smooth transition to their new accommodation.
Executive director of housing and technical resources, Daniel Lowe, said: “The Ukrainian refugees who are now staying at the Ramada Hotel arrived through the Scottish Super Sponsor visa route.
“This process is a Scottish Government arrangement with the Ramada being one of several hotels across Scotland providing a warm welcome before they move to accommodation and hosts throughout Scotland.
“People in the Ramada have experienced a wonderful welcome from residents in East Kilbride and have told us that although sad to leave the hotel, they are delighted to be able to move on to new accommodation either in South Lanarkshire or elsewhere in Scotland.”
In an effort to welcome the Ukranian people into the community, the Old Parish Church in East Kilbride Village held an event which attracted 50 refugees.
Church-goers were delighted to welcome up to 30 families with one little girl who showed up in full national dress with sunflowers in her hair.
Local kids also formed new friendships while learning the colours of the rainbow in Ukranian.
The church hall on Glebe Street now plans to open its doors to all Ukranian refugees every Tuesday from 2-4pm throughout summer where children can enjoy a whole host of fun activities including arts and crafts, face painting and games.
Old Parish Church Minister, Rev Anne Paton, said: "For a few weeks now, we have been joined in worship on a Sunday morning by some Ukrainian families, who are living in the Ramada hotel in the town centre.
"The children have joined in with our children’s activities, and despite the difficulties with the language barrier, it has been great to have them with us.
"We are fortunate to employ a part-time children’s and families’ worker, Iain Shaw, so he and I decided that we would host an event offering them hospitality and some fun activities for the children.
"I said to the congregation that we were holding this event and asked for anyone who was around to come and help in whatever way they could. I did add that perhaps no one would come along.
"Well, the upshot was that we had over 50 people at the event. Members of the congregation came along and offered hospitality, some set up craft activities, others set up table tennis and games, and we even had a face painter.
"As the afternoon wore on, some of our folks learned Ukrainian words, and when the parachute games were on, many could name the colours in Ukrainian.
"It was a great afternoon, so much so that we are making it a weekly event."
On February 24, Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War that began in 2014.
There have been least 46,000 fatalities since the invasion began which caused Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II, with at least 17 million Ukrainians fleeing the country and a third of the population displaced.
Rev Paton added: "Sometimes we look at things that are happening in our world and wonder what difference we can make. It can often seem such an insurmountable task that we hide ourselves away and do nothing.
"We, in the Old Parish Church haven’t changed the situation in Ukraine, for that is an impossible task for us, but hopefully we have done something to make the lives of some of their citizens just a little bit brighter during these dark times for their country."
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