Volunteer Centre Sutton is honoured to be able to welcome the Ukrainian community in Sutton, and to do what we can to support them, with the help of funding from Sutton Council.  

In 2023, we supported 105 children and 90 adults through various projects including our Saturday Morning ‘school’ at Christ Church Sutton, mentoring for children and young people, a summer activities programme, adult art activities sessions, Welcome to the UK courses, health and wellbeing sessions and day trips. 

Supporting children and young people from Ukraine 

Established in October 2022 and running during term time, the Saturday morning 'school' is the cornerstone of support for Ukrainian children, with around 50 children attending each week. As well as helping Ukrainian children to maintain their culture and language, it also creates a sense of community among families. 

Please note: All of our work with the Ukrainian community is fully funded by the London Borough of Sutton. For projects, such as the Ukrainian Saturday Morning 'School' where there is a high demand for places, priority will go to Ukrainian families who live within the London Borough of Sutton. The 'school' currently has around 50 students and is at full capacity. Any families that would like their children to join are invited to apply and they will be added to the waiting list.  We will be able to offer you a place as soon as a space becomes available. Please click here to apply.

Over the summer holidays of 2023, we were able to deliver ‘playgroup’ sessions for younger children, as well as art classes for older children. Despite the English weather, one of the highlights was taking 48 Ukrainians on a day trip to Brighton to enjoy fish and chips on the pier. 

Through our MAPS Mentoring project, we are also able to give individual support to Ukrainian children and young people facing challenges related to cultural adaptation and emotional well-being. Trained mentors work one-on-one with children, offering guidance, encouragement, and a safe space for expression.  

We also run a social group for Ukrainian teenages twice a month on Saturdays, to provide an informal group setting for them to connect and socialise. These sessions take place in the Sutton Library Family Hub. 

Supporting adults from Ukraine 

We provide a wide range of opportunities for adults ranging from art activities to health and wellbeing. We also run walking tours of the Sutton borough to introduce participants to the local community, encouraging a sense of connection and belonging.  

Group emotional support sessions are open to all adults, to particularly support those who have experienced trauma since the onset of the war. These sessions provide a safe and understanding environment for participants to share their experiences, express emotions, and receive support from peers. Facilitated by trained professionals, these groups play a crucial role in promoting healing and resilience.  

Our Ukraine projects coordinator Nataliya facilitates a weekly drop-in session on Mondays, in partnership with Sutton Salvation Army Church, which provides a "play and stay" session for under-5s as well as an English conversation club for adults. Nataliya also hosts a weekly drop-in session on Fridays at the Sound Lounge where Ukrainians can access support and be connected with partners such as Citizens Advice Sutton and Encompass Housing.

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