Tower and Town, March 2026 (view the full edition)Hosting Ukrainian FamiliesTwo families share their experiences. Alison and Martin: March 2022: Russian tanks are trying to encircle Kiev. A million Ukrainians are seeking refuge in Poland. "We must do something!" Eight weeks later we collect Svitlana and sons Rostik (15) and Vladik (8) from Stansted. Two years later, Anton, medically unable to fight, finally joins his wife and family. With lots of support from neighbours, friends and other hosts, our Ukrainian family start to settle into this unfamiliar culture, making new friends, and negotiating complex bureaucracy. We adapt to having less space, and so do they. We share the kitchen and the dining-room. Miraculously, there is no friction; quite the reverse. It is a blessing to be sharing our home with people so caring, considerate and generous, who intelligently anticipate and forestall potential problems. Chatting over meals reminds us that the war is on-going; that their parents often have no electricity or heating; that their friends are being bombed and killed. If you had asked us in 2022 to share our house for 4 years with a foreign family, our answer would have been "Sorry, but no. It just won't work". But it has worked and our lives are enriched and blessed by their company. Whatever happens, peace or no peace, we hope we will stay friends for life. Catherine and Chris: As we were waiting at Heathrow, I remember very genuine nerves about who our Ukrainian family would be and how we would all manage. Those nerves dissolved quickly. Lilia arrived with a natural warmth, while her two children looked understandably shell-shocked, having left their home and their father. The welcome they received locally was remarkable. The St Mary's community, in particular, was extraordinarily kind and supportive, offering friendship, practical help and a sense of belonging from the outset. It made a daunting transition feel possible. There were times when the war felt very close. Once Lilia showed me an app on her phone tracking drone and missile strikes and advising when to take shelter - I sensed her war weariness. One day I vividly remember finding her standing in our utility room, staring out over Marlborough. When I asked if she was all right, she simply said she was enjoying looking at a place at peace. Hosting was sometimes tiring, but it never felt like a difficult decision. We had the room, and they were a family in need. We prayed about who might come, and we believe Lilia and her family were God's answer and will be lifelong friends. Knowing these lovely people has only deepened our horror at what they - and so many others - have had to endure.
Allison and Martin; Catherine and Chris |