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Dear Sponsors and Guests,
I hope our newsletter finds you well and you have been enjoying the change in the weather, the lighter nights, and the Easter celebrations.
Talking of celebrations we have a very special one coming up in May with the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The service will take place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6 May and will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Service will reflect the Monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry. Visit the Royal UK website for more information.
There are also lots of free fun activities for children, including colouring in sheets and printable bunting, that you can download from the Coronation website.
Speaking of bunting, you may find that there is a street party in your neighbourhood. This is longstanding tradition in the UK, organised by residents, which seems to have started in 1919 as ‘Peace Teas’ after World War I as a treat mainly for children in those times of hardship.
My first recollection of a street party was as a child to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977. Neighbours coming together, dressed in red, white, and blue, the bunting, the food, and the fun. Fond memories.
Whatever you do we hope you have a lovely May Bank Holiday weekend.
Please do remember that you can contact the Ukraine Support Team either by calling 0300 300 8855 or emailing homesforukraine@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.
Mel Goult, Ukraine Support Team Manager
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Ukrainians who changed the world
By Iryna Kanyuka, Ukrainian Support Liaison Officer
Welcome to part two of our series! Ukrainians throughout the years have held important government positions in foreign countries, conquered space and high fashion, starred in some of the highest grossing films and made important scientific discoveries.
Lesya Ukrainka
Lesya Ukrainka was a writer and poet who was born in 1871 in Novohrad-Volynskyi (now Zviahel) in Ukraine. Her play, The Forest Song, has become a classic in Ukrainian literature.
There is a monument in Kyiv that bears her name, she is the namesake of the Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Theater and she is depicted on a Ukrainian banknote.
Max Levchin
Born in Kyiv, Max Levchin co-founded, along with Peter Theil, the system that is now PayPal and used across the world. He moved to Chicago at the age of 16, and settled there, eventually gaining a degree in computer science from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko
Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko are Ukrainian former professional boxers. During their peak years between 2004 and 2015, they were considered among the most successful champions in boxing history.
Wladimir Klitschko won a gold medal in the super-heavyweight division at the 1996 Summer Olympics. Having never been knocked down, Vitali Klitschko is widely regarded as the tougher fighter of the two. He has also been the mayor of Kyiv since 2014.
Eugene Paton
Eugene Paton devoted his whole life to the construction of bridges. Born in France and educated in Germany and the Russian Empire, he worked in Ukraine almost all his life until his death at the age of 83. In 1934 he established the E. O. Paton Electric Welding Institute in Kyiv, a welding research institution.
His last creation was the unique (at that time) all-welded bridge across the Dnieper River in Kyiv, the construction of which was completed after his death. The Paton Bridge, also the longest bridge in Kyiv, has been included in the list of outstanding engineering structures by the American Academy of Welding.
Olga Kurylenko
Olga Kurylenko is an actress and model with a Ukranian father and Russian mother. She started modelling at the age of 14 and started her acting career in 2005.
She found success for her role as Nika Boronina in the movie adaptation of the video game Hitman, and then rose to fame by playing Bond girl, Camille Montes, in the 22nd James Bond film, Quantum of Solace.
News and updates
Educational support for children under the Homes for Ukraine scheme
We have been awarded funding under the Homes for Ukraine scheme to support children and families in relation to education.
We have appointed Olena Harrison, who started on 17 April, to support children and families with education.
Olena will work alongside Ukrainian children and families who are engaged with the Homes for Ukraine scheme, offering support and advice to children, their families and professionals when it comes to education. She'll also be offering support to children who are accessing remote education.
As well as that she'll be working closely with professionals who are seeking support with educational issues for children linked to the Homes for Ukraine scheme and will work closely with teams within the Council to make sure children are receiving a suitable education.
Please take part in our short survey about domestic abuse
We are asking people to share their experiences of domestic abuse through a short survey. The Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment will be open for people to have their say until Wednesday 31 May.
In the UK, it is estimated that one in four women and one in six men will be affected during their lifetime.
We want to hear about people’s lived experiences, to develop our understanding of the public’s perceptions of domestic abuse, and the support services they have used if they have experienced it or been worried about their own behaviour.
We will use feedback from the survey to shape future services to support people who have experienced domestic abuse. Feedback will also help us develop our Domestic Abuse Strategy, which will be launched in 2025.
The government defines domestic abuse as any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality.
Take part in the anonymous survey on our website.
Community events
Drop-in sessions in Biggleswade
Our Ukraine Support Team is running drop-in sessions at Biggleswade Children's Centre every other fortnight from 9:30am until 12:30pm.
The team can sort out any enquiries there and then and have lots of other useful information available. You'll also be able to meet other guests, and are welcome to stay for a hot drink and a chat.
The next visits are:
- Tuesday 25 April
- Tuesday 9 May
- Tuesday 23 May
The address for Biggleswade Children’s Centre is: 137 Mead End, Biggleswade, SG18 8JU.
The King’s Wardrobe Coronation Trail
A free interactive trail taking place in Leighton Buzzard High Street throughout May!
Complete mini challenges, try on items and take selfies with them on. When you’ve met all 10, you can see the fully prepared King in augmented reality.
Find out more on Leighton-Linslade Town Council's website.
The Big Help Out - marking the King's Coronation
On Monday 8 May, thousands of organisations will be coming together to mark The King’s Coronation by creating volunteering opportunities for residents.
There will be opportunities for everyone to join in. No matter what you are good at, there’ll be something to suit helping hands of all shapes and sizes! Find out more on The Big Help Out's website.
Watch the Coronation in Priory Gardens, Dunstable
You can watch the Coronation live on a big screen at Priory Gardens in Dunstable from midday. Bring friends and family, picnic blankets and chairs, food and drink along for a once in a lifetime celebration. Find out more on Dunstable Town Council's website.
Other resources and support
Have you heard of our Family Information Directory?
Our Family Information Directory is a great resource for parents and carers, and contains information on local OFSTED registered nurseries and childminders, and information about funding options available for childcare.
It also contains information about all of our Council-run children's centres and the activities they offer. We have children's centres in Sandy, Biggleswade, Shefford, Stotfold, Flitwick, Leighton Buzzard, Houghton Regis and Dunstable. Find your local children's centre.
Don't forget about our website!
Don’t forget about our website! We have created a whole section which covers the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, initial support for guests, how to access financial support including Universal Credit, as well as information about education, training, how to set up a bank account, health and wellbeing. Most of our website can be translated into Ukrainian.
To find out more and see what information we have available, visit: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/ukraine-sponsors.
Contacting the Ukraine Support Team
Telephone: 0300 300 8855
Email: homesforukraine@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk