It was such a privilege for Angela to join nearly 50 Ukrainian children – all displaced by the war – attending a special event at The Hive in Guildford with best-selling children’s author Di Redmond. During the event, organised by the Ukrainian School Surrey to coincide with the anniversary weekend of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Di read from her latest book, RUCKSACK, written for the displaced children of Ukraine, addressing themes of loss and trauma. Following the book reading, the children were invited to take part in a Q&A session and drawing activities.
The Ukrainian School Surrey was co-founded by a group of Ukrainian mothers, Guildford Borough Council and voluntary support group, GUkraine. Its aim is to preserve the connection of children with their homeland and to enable pupils to learn Ukrainian language, history, culture and traditions, helping them with a smooth transition when they are able to return home.
Angela said: "I was pleased to join the Mayor and Mayoress of Guildford in supporting the event and it was a very moving occasion. I was close to tears on several occasions and it is Guildford and the UK's pleasure to host so many wonderful families, sharing their culture with us and enriching our lives. We not only stand with you on the international stage but also locally to help you feel as settled and comfortable as possible and I pay tribute to everyone who is helping do that. Tina and Debra have been in touch with me about Ukrainian support for many months and it was lovely to be able to see how their hard work had turned into such a wonderful event."