Community Spotlight: Ukraine Appeal’s Telling My Story Programme
This Refugee Week, we’re shining a spotlight on a new wellbeing initiative from Ukraine Appeal, a Milton Keynes charity that has played a key role in supporting Ukrainian families and bringing communities together since the start of the war in Ukraine. The programme has been developed in partnership with the Recovery & Wellbeing College at CNWL NHS Foundation Trust.
Telling My Story is a six-week programme designed to support people affected by trauma, displacement, isolation and major life changes through storytelling, creative activities and peer support. The pilot is currently supporting Ukrainian refugees in Milton Keynes, but the programme has been intentionally designed as a model that could be adapted for other communities in the future. The project highlights the potential for collaboration across the voluntary, community and public sectors, creating opportunities to support wellbeing, resilience and community integration for a wider range of communities across Milton Keynes.
The programme is the latest example of Ukraine Appeal’s growing contribution to community life in Milton Keynes. Alongside providing practical and emotional support to Ukrainian families, the charity runs the Sunflower Ukrainian Supplementary School, helping children and young people stay connected to their language, culture and heritage while building friendships and confidence within their local community.
Since the Refugee Support Network was established, Ukraine Appeal has been a valued and active member, regularly contributing to meetings, sharing learning and helping strengthen support for people seeking sanctuary across Milton Keynes. The organisation has played an important role in bringing communities together through a wide range of cultural, educational and community events, including fundraising concerts, family activities, wellbeing initiatives and commemorative events that encourage understanding, connection and community cohesion. Earlier this year, they organised Chornobyl 40: Memory, Peace and Responsibility at the Peace Pagoda, bringing together local residents, children, faith groups and peace advocates to reflect on remembrance, resilience and hope.
Most recently, Ukraine Appeal brought fantastic energy to Community Action: MK’s Volunteers’ Week celebration at centre, with inspiring singing performances from local community members helping to create a real sense of welcome and celebration. Through initiatives such as Telling My Story and their wider community work, Ukraine Appeal continues to demonstrate the power of community-led support, creating opportunities for people to connect, recover, contribute and thrive. We are grateful for everything they do to support people seeking sanctuary and help make Milton Keynes a welcoming and inclusive place for all.
To see more of the charity’s activities, events and partnerships, we encourage you to follow Ukraine Appeal on social media to get an insight into how they bring the local Ukrainian community together while collaborating with a wide range of cultural, voluntary and community organisations across Milton Keynes.
We are grateful for everything they do to support people seeking sanctuary and help make Milton Keynes a welcoming and inclusive place for all.
Photo credits: Ukraine Appeal and Community Action: MK.