Ukrainians who have settled in Bolton after fleeing the war in Ukraine were guests of honour at special town hall reception.
Yesterday evening (28 June), the Mayor of Bolton Cllr Akhtar Zaman was joined by some of the families who have been resettled in the borough, as well as local community groups and partner organisations.
At the reception, the Ukrainians spoke about their experiences since settling in Bolton and thanked everybody involved in helping support the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
The national government scheme matches refugees with sponsors who can offer them a place to stay.
Several local sponsors came forward for the scheme, and Bolton Council has worked with them and community groups to offer support and guidance.
Cllr Zaman said:
“Bolton has a long history of supporting people and there has been an amazing local response to helping those affected by the conflict in Ukraine.
“Whether that is through donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal or offering a place for refugees to stay, Bolton can be proud of its response to this international crisis.
“It was an honour to welcome the families and hear more about their experiences.”
Yaroslaw Tymchyshyn, Chair Bolton Branch of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, said:
“I would like to thank the sponsors for offering accommodation and our council officers for putting support and safeguarding arrangements in place quickly.
“I would also like to thank our partners in the voluntary sector who are providing support to sponsors and guests in local communities, and our local health services and schools.”
As the conflict continues, it is anticipated that more Ukrainian refugees will arrive in Bolton and the council along with its partners stand ready to support them.