Quiz Night, March 2025
Stuart Twiss Stuart Twiss

Quiz Night, March 2025

We held another successful and sold out quiz night on March 8th. Motcombe Village Hall was filled with regular quiz goers who came for the fun, the challenge and especially for the fabulous feast provided by Kabab Ji (Syrian Cuisine).

Over £700 was raised to support displaced people in our area. Thanks to all our quizzical friends and the community that has grown around these nights and our group.

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‘Masliana’, a welcome to spring
Stuart Twiss Stuart Twiss

‘Masliana’, a welcome to spring

Masliana is a traditional celebration in Ukraine that marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring.

It is typically a week-long celebration leading up to the beginning of Lent, also known as Pancake Week, and is celebrated with lots of food, music, and traditional customs.

Saturday March 1st was an opportunity to share this custom with local Ukrainians, to taste great food, listen to music and learn new crafting skills

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Converting to electronic visas
Stuart Twiss Stuart Twiss

Converting to electronic visas

The Home Office is replacing physical immigration documents with a digital proof of immigration status – an eVisa - for customers already living in the UK, and for new visa applicants too.

Міністерство внутрішніх справ замінює фізичні імміграційні документи цифровим підтвердженням імміграційного статусу – електронною візою – для клієнтів, які вже проживають у Великобританії, а також для нових заявників на візу.

Кожен, хто має британську візу, який уже перебуває у Великобританії, повинен дізнатися, що їм потрібно зробити, щоб створити обліковий запис UKVI для доступу до вашої eVisa.

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A Christmas children’s craft workshop
Stuart Twiss Stuart Twiss

A Christmas children’s craft workshop

Thanks to Tamsin Jacson we were able to run an engaging children’s craft workshop just before Christmas.

The children left with decorations for the tree and home.

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A festive day in Oxford
Stuart Twiss Stuart Twiss

A festive day in Oxford

Late November is a good time to begin thinking about Christmas and what better way to enter the season than with a trip to Oxford, its Colleges, museums and markets.

Despite it being the wettest weekend in the month we had warm drinks to welcome us and good spirits as we explored what Oxford had to offer.

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Ukrainian Film Night
Stuart Twiss Stuart Twiss

Ukrainian Film Night

A moving film about the impact of war on the cultural life of Ukraine was shown in Motcombe Memorial Hall.

The film was followed by a discussion about its impact on the audience, and how the war has changed the cultural life of Ukraine.

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Giving a helping hand
Stuart Twiss Stuart Twiss

Giving a helping hand

This is a good news item by Oleksandr and Galyna who have been volunteering in their community.

Це гарна новина від Олександра та Галини, які займаються волонтерством у своїй громаді.

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Shaftesbury Abbey Museum and Gardens
Stuart Twiss Stuart Twiss

Shaftesbury Abbey Museum and Gardens

A connection has been made between Shaftesbury Abbey, Museum and Gardens and the Ukrainian community here and in Ukraine.

Hurdles have arrived from the Ukraine to add screens to the garden and a local woman has translated the Abbey guide into Ukrainian. Путівник по абатству Шафтсбері

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Yoga classes
Stuart Twiss Stuart Twiss

Yoga classes

Ми отримали чудову пропозицію від Джордани Вакелін, шановного вчителя йоги, провести 10 занять максимум для 8 осіб за дивовижною ціною £7 за сеанс.

Зазвичай заняття коштують 15 фунтів стерлінгів, але Джордана зменшила свою плату, і Shaftesbury Refugee Group додасть цю знижку, щоб зробити заняття доступними.

We have had a wonderful offer from Jordana Wakelin, a respected yoga teacher, to provide 10 classes for up to 8 people at the significantly, discounted price of £7 per session.

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Meditation course
Stuart Twiss Stuart Twiss

Meditation course

Starting Thursday 10th October

This course, by Fran Quinlan, offers participants a toolkit for self-practice to deal with the stresses and anxieties that occur in daily lives. It will explore concentration meditation techniques and every day themes such as physical pain, anxiety, role and emotional stress and learn some movement exercises for boosting physical and mental health.

Починаючи з четверга, 10 жовтня

Цей курс Френ Квінлан пропонує учасникам набір інструментів для самостійної практики, щоб справлятися зі стресами та тривогами, які виникають у повсякденному житті. Він вивчатиме методи медитації концентрації та повсякденні теми, такі як фізичний біль, тривога, роль і емоційний стрес, а також вивчатиме деякі рухові вправи для зміцнення фізичного та психічного здоров’я.

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Making and sewing
Stuart Twiss Stuart Twiss

Making and sewing

We want to bring to your attention a generous offer to find a place to make and mend, to sew and meet up. The Sewing Barn at Stour Provost has many opportunities that would make a difference to you and to our planet.

Хочемо представити вашій увазі щедру пропозицію знайти місце для пошиття та ремонту, пошиття та зустрічі. The Sewing Barn у Stour Provost має багато можливостей, які могли б змінити ситуацію як для вас, так і для нашої планети.

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Moving on to Higher Education?
Stuart Twiss Stuart Twiss

Moving on to Higher Education?

If you are a displaced person going onto Higher Education for the first time, you can apply for a small grant to help with the additional, initial costs of travel and study.

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Independence Day 2024
Stuart Twiss Stuart Twiss

Independence Day 2024

24th August is an important day for Ukrainian people to gather under the flag of their independent nation.

Celebrated this year in Gillingham at the social club.

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Summer English schools for children 2024
Stuart Twiss Stuart Twiss

Summer English schools for children 2024

The summer schools at Port Regis returned at the end of July for 5 weeks. Made possible because of the kindness of English Country Schools and Port Regis we were able to provide a week or more of summer school. Each day was a mix of English lessons, physical and social activities with up to 100 international students. A chance to be part of the wider world and to be taught by excellent tutors.

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Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show 2024
Stuart Twiss Stuart Twiss

Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show 2024

What a wonderful two days these were, despite the flurry of rain showers.

Thanks to the kindness of the show organisers the days were enjoyed by 17 displaced people from Ukraine. This contact with a rural life was both interesting and reassuring for the young and old alike.

The kindness of our North Dorset community is a thing to celebrate.

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Shaftesbury Refugee Group AGM 2024
Stuart Twiss Stuart Twiss

Shaftesbury Refugee Group AGM 2024

Each year we hold a public meeting where we can reflect on our work in the previous year and consider the questions and comments of the people who are interested in that work. It’s a chance to look at our finances and see how they might be used in the future.

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The Jurassic Coast
Stuart Twiss Stuart Twiss

The Jurassic Coast

On Saturday 13th July we travelled as far South as we could to meet friends in Weymouth and visit the wonders of the Jurassic Coast. Hosted by Maryna Dovbysh and carried by Vale Coaches we were blessed with ideal weather and wonderful company.

A joyous day of friendship and community.

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