Our guests from Ukraine have arrived so why am I crying.

[Yoohoo778611]

I don't know how to tag my last thread. Having people from Ukraine staying.
Ours guests arrived yesterday afternoon. 2 mums (sisters) with a toddler each.

The reason I'm crying is this afternoon a delivery was made by someone in our area
of a toddler sized slide and a swing. Some gift cards and letters were posted through our letter box
welcoming them to our town.
All anonymous. I think it might be people from our street(it's quite a long one) so can't narrow it down.

I knew it! There is still good in the world and this proves it.

Thank you OP x

yay this is so mumsnet :)

That’s so lovely. The Mums will always remember this kindness.

Just wonderful.

What area are you in OP?

What a lovely welcome for them after such a traumatic time.

What brilliant people you, your family and your neighbours are ❤️

Again thank you for your messages.
We connected with these ladies through our DS's friends wife who is Polish.
Thank goodness they have a command of English.
Appointments have been made at the bank and benefit office for later in the week.
Forms to register for the GP have been collected and will be returned tomorrow.
Underwear has been purchased which I think they are happy about even if it was
just from Asda for now.
Swing has been put up by DH. Children are adorable.

Hi OP.
My mum signed up to take people in yet she's had nothing to say she's going to get guests. She really want to help but she's not sure she's doing it right. Did you get a message from the government or did you have to find your own guests?

We found our own guests through our DS'S friends wife who is Polish.
These ladies and their children had made the way to Poland.
This friends wife's mum works with refugees.

Earlier today I read that the DEC appeal for Ukraine has raised over £260m in the last 3 weeks from the UK. Combined with this thread, I am finding that my faith that there is some good left in humans, is slowly being mended a little.

A big welcome to your guests, OP. You help this small group of people now, but cannot know the wider good you do - these lives changed and saved may go on to do all kinds of good in the future, even if 'just' raising their families in love and goodness.

Sadly, I am not in a position to host, but wanted to thank you OP for doing it.

I hope the families settle in quickly but are able to rejoin their families safely when things are resolved in the Ukraine. What a scary journey they are all on, so thank you for being the kind face of the UK.

A lady in our village is hosting a family from next week (mum and 3 children aged between 7 and 12). She put a post on the local Facebook page asking for items if anyone had them (spare bedroom furniture, toys, second hand tv, etc) and has been inundated with donations and offers of help from local tradesmen in terms of getting them set up. It’s been very heartwarming to see.

Thank you - that’s heart warming xxx

Thank you for such a lovely thread!

Lovely thing to do, and your tears are no doubt bittersweet - happy to help them all and sadness for what they have gone through and continue to go through. You've done a wonderful thing and your children will learn a great lesson from this. Well done OP. I hope to do the same and your story inspires me x

You have done a lovely thing. I hope they settle well.

PS if in Buckinghamshire I have toddler clothes.

Thankyou Yoohoo you are restoring my faith in humanity. Wish I could do the same but with 4 with disabilities I feel we could not give them the support they will need. Once again thankyou xx

@Sitchervice

Hi OP. My mum signed up to take people in yet she's had nothing to say she's going to get guests. She really want to help but she's not sure she's doing it right. Did you get a message from the government or did you have to find your own guests?

Signing up to the government site won't get you matched with anyone. It's just an email list for updates about the scheme. Try the Homes for Ukraine matching service run by Reset Refugees www.homesforukraine.org.uk/ Or try local FB pages or www.ukrainetakeshelter.com/ for DIY options

[quote SweetpeasforEasterfeast]@Yoohoo778611
You and your DH are 'Earth Angels"
It brings a tear to my eye that the families feel so safe in your home that they are able to let down their guard and happily be outside without fear. The t.v. reports from their country are devastating. The people can't relax for one minute without fear of being in harms way.

I would imagine your own family will be as blessed with their presence as they will be by being in your home.

Thank you for stepping out of your comfort zone to open your arms and lives to host them.

You are changing the course of history by what you've done...who knows where your kindness will lead. You are imprinting on those precious children that the World can be a happy place and that people can be good. [/quote]

This 👆

❤️❤️❤️

You and your Family are so kind to take these people in. It is wonderful what you are doing and so kind of your neighbours too, These people will never forget You and your Family...you all will be in their hearts forever. xxx

This is beautiful. ❤

@unfortunateevents

Could somebody on here who is preparing to host refugees please tell me how you matched with your guests? DH and I registered on the first day but have heard nothing from anyone - not even re DBS checks etc. Like most people we don't know any Ukrainians so can't work with anyone directly and Google doesn't help me with any local organisations who are helping. I fear that if we wait for the powers-that-be to help we could be waiting a long time! I know there are some FB groups where families are posting and looking for matches but that doesn't feel particularly safe for either side.

We're in the same position - registered with the government etc. We have connected with a local person who is coordinating matches locally (she is Polish) on a local FB group, so it might be worth looking for something like that? She hasn't yet found anyone for us but is keeping in touch and tells us there will be someone soon as people are coming through all the time. So we're just waiting.

Op that's absolutely lovely and brought a tear to my eye too ❤️

Thanks @Firefliess
I'll let her know

@Greaterthanthesumoftheparts

That’s lovely OP. We live in a village in Switzerland (around 2,500 people) which, during the 2017 migrant crisis had a very right wing local government and became famous for voting against taking its quota of refugees and choosing to pay a fee instead. International newspapers named it the most racist village in the world 😞. In contrast, I was delighted to read in our local paper last week that some administrative rooms in the local fire station have been changed into temporary accommodation and two Ukranian families with children are now being housed there. An appeal for furniture, fixtures and fittings and toys for the kids was fulfilled within the village within 24 hours! What a difference 5 years makes! Yesterday we met a lovely Ukranian lady with her father and three-year-old son whilst we were out sledging, they had arrived here 10 days ago and we’re being loaned an apartment by a friend of theirs who has temporarily moved back in with his mother so they have somewhere to live. We leant them a sledge and they came over for a play date this afternoon noon with DS (also 3) and our downstairs neighbours kids who are also Ukranian. It was a crazy afternoon filled with the noise of happy kids!

That’s lovely that your town has changed, but has this initial refusal to host refugees, by any chance depend on their religion/ colour of their skin/ region that they’re from do you think? Just asking as I was a child refugee and didn’t get the warm welcome you guys are describing.