Ukrainian families living in Upton were treated to a series of summer activities this week – with packed fun days and tours out to the Cotswolds.
Hosted by Brio Retirement Living, the events helped the families familiarise themselves with the wider region, Many families don’t speak English nor have access to transport while living in the country.
Among those willing to help were colleagues from Brio Retirement Living’s Beechwood Park in Stow-on-the-Wold teamed up with the Upton upon Severn Baptist Church to develop a schedule of activities to look forward to over the summer. Trish Staite is general manager at Beechwood Park and a resident of Upton; she explained: “Like many people around the country, we have been moved by the strength of Ukrainian families, many of whom have left all that they know to set up life in a new part of the world.
“I saw lots of families moving into Upton and felt compelled to help in any way I could. In working with the church, we were able to get families out into the Cotswolds for a free day of fun that took us to Beechwood Park, Cotswolds Farm Park and to take in some of the sights of the Cotswolds.
“We were all just so blown away by the beauty of the Cotswolds; even as a local it opened my eyes to how unique our setting is at Beechwood Park and the wider region. It was joyous and uplifting and I cannot express enough gratitude to show the Ukrainian families how grateful we are to have met them, to hear about their lives, their ambitions and the ongoing situation in their homeland.”