Hosting Ukrainian families in the Elmbridge community has been a profound experience for those who have done it. Opening a home and welcoming other people into the family takes courage, but it is also a hugely rewarding experience.
Two Ukrainian families have recently arrived in Elmbridge, with mothers and friends Olena and Tetiana previously owning a travel agency together at home. The two families are close, but nothing could have prepared them for an epic journey across Europe, which lasted over two months and spanned over 3000 km.
Diane, an Elmbridge resident had been thinking of embracing this opportunity for a while and was in the fortunate position of having space in her home. She comments: “I had followed the war in the news and had been in touch with Elmbridge Borough Council to say I’d be interested in having somebody. I had a phone call one day and I was then introduced to Tetiana, Alex and Daria.”
Tetiana and her two children, Alex (15) and Daria (11), lived in Vinnytsia, a city in central Ukraine. When the war broke out on 24 February 2022, Tetiana’s…