Tower and Town, June 2022

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Ukrainians in Marlborough

There is a new group of people who have moved to the Marlborough area. None of them knew at the start of this year that within months their lives would be shattered and they would find themselves living far from home separated from their loved ones. Notwithstanding the UK government appearing to make the Homes for Ukraine scheme as inaccessible as possible, with the support of a small team helping match Ukrainians with local residents, more than 20 families have found homes in the Marlborough area. Many are still waiting for visa applications to be processed to enable them to enter the UK.

For most people in our community, we chose to live here. For newly arrived Ukrainians, they just need a safe place to call home. Many families are from vibrant cities in the Ukraine. It is taking some adjustment to embrace country life particularly as they are without cars, dependent on public transport and lifts from their host families. When they left their homes, they packed what they could carry. It was February and very cold. There was no space in their luggage for luxuries, just the bare essentials.

Two families travelled to Marlborough in a small car. Two adults, two teenagers and a young child left limited space for luggage. The computer hard-drive was prioritised over clothes demonstrating one member’s desire to be able to work wherever she landed.

There is a mix of emotions amongst the Ukrainian community about being here. For some, they will be on the first plane or train home as soon as it is safe to do so. They are desperate to be  reunited with their sons, husbands, fathers and elderly parents who were unable to travel. For many, they are only here for as long as it is necessary to protect their children from the horrors of what is happening in Ukraine. For others, they are trying to put a positive lens on the situation and see this as an opportunity. No one knows how long the war in Ukraine will last and what will be left of their homes when it is safe to return. For now, they are focusing on building a new life here. For the duration of their 3 years visa, they are safe, they can work, their children can attend school and they can start to rebuild a life for themselves. 

Erica Stuart