Laura's story

Laura and her husband began hosting a mother from Kyiv and her two sons earlier this year through USPUK. She wrote to thank us for our help: “Things are going very well with our guests. The boys seem very happy, have enrolled in local sports clubs, talk to their father regularly and have started to settle in at school. From our perspective - they have been a delight! Engaging, enthusiastic, polite, houseproud and appreciative of our welcome. We did not anticipate the generosity of the local community. It may be that the family are 'novel' in a large village, but people we do not know have offered money, bicycles, clothing and bedding.

The boys have been provided with sports kit by the local clubs. Both the local church and the church in the nearest town have been helpful. They have provided social and practical support and hold weekly get-togethers for local Ukrainians, which were a lifeline at the beginning. All in all, a life-affirming experience, as you had indicated. We have no regrets and would recommend the experience to anyone interested. We would certainly do it again, or take in other refugees if our family are able to become independent or (God willing) the conflict in Ukraine resolves.”