One year on: FCN volunteers on helping Ukrainian refugees

Farming families have been speaking about their enriching experiences of hosting Ukrainian refugees fleeing the conflict in their country.

Volunteers for national charity Farming Community Network (FCN) are among those providing safety, shelter and support to Ukrainian refugees.

It has been 12 months since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. More than 82,000 Ukrainian refugees and members of their families have been welcomed in the UK.

See also: UK farmers mobilise to take their pickups to Ukraine’s front line

Worcestershire farmer and head of agriculture at Natural England Geoff Sansome previously worked in agricultural transition projects in Ukraine for many years and has a personal, deep respect and love for the country.

On the day the war broke out, 37-year-old Vika and her 10-year-old daughter, Katya, fled their home in Kiev.

After living temporarily with 16 others in a small house in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, they made the 2,500-mile journey to England. There, they found safety, security and comfort in Mr Sansome’s home.

Vika and Katya are relatives of people Mr Sansome worked with in the past, and he felt compelled to do his part in helping them.

“Ukraine is a great agrarian nation, and many of the issues our own farmers are facing now result from the conflict in terms of input prices. Anything we can do to help, we should,” he said.

Katya with the vicar of Claines and Claines’ British Legion members © FCN

Vika and Katya are looking to establish their own home this April, though the road ahead will not be without its challenges.

They have made the difficult, but understandable, decision to not go back to Ukraine until things are safer and more stable – which could take some time.

In the meantime, Mr Sansome and his family are helping the family with plans for the next school year, which Katya is looking forward to.

Dnipro family

FCN volunteer and group co-ordinator Margaret Herbert and her husband, Bob, have also taken in a Ukrainian family.

In June 2022, the Herberts welcomed husband and wife Oleg and Olena, their three children, Oleksandra, 17, Vitalii, 13, and youngest daughter Anastasiia, five, as well as the family cat, Kasya, from Dnipro, central Ukraine.

From left: Anastasiia, Olena, Oleg, Oleksandra with Kasya the cat, and Vitalii © FCN

“We have been made to feel very welcome in England and love exploring the culture here,” said Olena.

“Margaret and Bob are like family, and we thank them for everything they have done for us. Their support has been incredible.”

Across the border in North Wales, FCN supporter Paula Sells is helping to co-ordinate an initiative to supply Ukraine with much-needed generators.

A lorry to and from Ukraine visits their local area every month, picking up from various towns from Chester to Llandudno.