UKRAINIAN COFFEE AND CONVERSATION HUB

In May 2022, we launched our Coffee and Conversation Hub at Emanuel School. Typically 60 Ukrainian adults and children meet with Emanuel parent and pupil volunteers, including Ukrainian speakers, to network and hone their English skills. The Hub runs bi-monthly on Saturday mornings and is open to everyone in our Wandsworth community.

We have organised a number of activities including a Houses of Parliament tour through a wonderful Emanuel parent volunteer; free places with Activ Camp for 5 weeks over the Summer for 20 children; and day visits to the Wetlands Centre. We recently hosted a Christmas celebration. We decorated delicious shortbread cookies and enjoyed some spectacularly tasty traditional Ukrainian Christmas treats. A highlight was joining the Emanuel School parent choir - our Ukrainian contingent sang a traditional Ukrainian carol a cappella and then joined our choir to sing Silent Night plus more. It was a wonderful way to share a little Christmas spirit in such difficult times.

The Hub has enabled our Ukrainian neighbours to connect, access much needed resources and information, sign up for English classes and importantly, have a safe and regular meeting point.

Hub participant