A special Christmas celebration for young people from Ukraine took place last week. These are children and young people who have moved to the borough.
The family fun event on Wednesday 18 December, saw lots of festive food and drinks, from local charity, London's Community Kitchen. There was also traditional Ukrainian music – and they even got to meet Saint Nicholas who gave the children presents, and The Mayor of Harrow, Cllr Salim Chowdhury.
Local florist, Flowers on the Hill, also joined in the fun and donated some beautiful potted plants like orchids, mini-Christmas trees and fresh floral arrangements for the event.
Cllr Janet Mote, Cabinet Member for Community and Culture said:
“Christmas is a time when families come together. With the war in Ukraine, unfortunately some families have been displaced and have moved to the UK – including Harrow. It was great to see the young people from Ukraine feel the magic of Christmas here in Harrow and feel at home.
“It was my pleasure to share some gift cards to each child from me personally – a small gesture in what I hope was a wonderful day to remember for all that attended.
Kate, who attended the event said:
“It’s so nice of the council and local community to create this type of event for us. As we’re new to the area, we don’t go out so much. It is great to reunite with people from Ukraine, to share our tradition, and learn about each other."
This work is part of the council’s Homes for Ukraine scheme which launched in March 2022. Since then, more than 200 local people have opened up their homes to welcome over 400 Ukrainian citizens displaced by Russia’s invasion of their country. As a local authority, the Council is helping Ukrainian refugees to find sponsors in Harrow and helping citizens adapt to life in their new home. Together with local partners, the Council is making sure sponsors and citizens are well supported.
If you’re thinking about becoming a sponsor, contact the Homes for Ukraine team at community.development@harrow.gov.uk. You can also find a list of common questions about sponsorship.