Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, nearly 220,000 Ukrainian refugees have come to the UK, with many seeking assistance at the Ukrainian Welcome Centre in London. Igor, a children's fiction writer, shares how the center helped him navigate life in the UK, providing vital resources such as English classes and legal advice. The center, operated by volunteers, creates a sense of community, with Igor and Inna, another volunteer, emphasizing the support and familial bonds formed there that help alleviate the challenges faced by many refugees.
"Imagine, you move to London, with one bag and no knowledge of English. It was incredibly difficult," he said, but added since he set foot in the Ukrainian Welcome Centre in central London he "didn't want to go anywhere else".
For Igor, "the centre is a second home - or now, perhaps even my first". "This isn't just a centre, it's a family," he said.
Inna, another centre user turned volunteer, described her awe at the breadth of support available. With such a vast network "everything can be resolved" and nobody is turned away, she said.
Becoming a volunteer, she said, had boosted her self-esteem and allowed her to give back to those who arrive "wide-eyed" and "confused" as she once was.
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