A Weekend to Recharge at Magdalen Farm
A group of Ukrainian families from the Shaftesbury and Gillingham area recently enjoyed a very special weekend together at Magdalen Farm.
The visit gave families a chance to get away from everyday pressures, spend time in the countryside and, most importantly, relax together. Children enjoyed feeding the animals, playing outside and taking part in activities, while there was time for walks, arts and crafts, good food and evenings together.
For some of the adults, simply having a few days when someone else was doing the looking after was particularly valuable. One participant described the weekend as:
“A great escape from everyday routine, a lot of fun with animals and all activities, a lot of fresh air, walking and delicious food and welcoming staff.”
Another said she felt “recharged and ready for September.”
There were plenty of lighter moments too. The bunk beds became “cool forts” for the children, while some of the mums stayed up chatting so late that their children complained that they were being kept awake!
The Magdalen team made everyone feel very welcome, including preparing Ukrainian dishes especially for the group.
Of particular value was the opportunity “to meet other Ukrainians and speak, play together.”
Asked for three words to describe the weekend, we chose:
Calming. Welcoming. Nurturing.
We are enormously grateful to Magdalen Farm and to the Donors, whose generous financial support helped make the weekend possible.
