Natalya Kuchmak and Marianna Golub came to Malvern after fleeing the war in Ukraine. In their own words, they share how they created a new life in the town and launched a group to help children from Ukraine share their creative side.

We were met by wonderful people Christopher Bayley and Alison Findlay, as well as John Raine and Susan Raine, our hosts, whom we sincerely thank for giving us the opportunity to be here and to develop and support our children. Also, many thanks to all the other English families who help Ukrainian families.

That's why we decided to help children who are now most in need of protection and help in these difficult times for all Ukrainians. We created a group 'Talented Ukrainian children in Malvern' at St Joseph's Catholic Church.

We meet there every Saturday at 3pm, and organize painting, singing, various contests, theatre performances and other holiday activities. All of the children are very happy to have the opportunity to communicate in their native language and to spend time together with their peers.

Everything we do is the result of our own efforts and funds. But many other people have been helping us by providing materials and donations, and for which we thank everyone very much.

You are wonderful and we very much appreciate all your support. Indeed, we want to fold our small hearts into one big loving heart that wraps love around all the children and adults who come to our sessions and give us such joy at every meeting.

But now we want to do more for the further development of our group. And we are looking for further help to enable our group to grow into a school; a school which is so necessary for these children.

Our sessions together are greatly helping our children with their communication, their drawing and singing skills, as well as in celebrating their birthdays and other important and precious moments in their childhoods.

Creating and maintaining a strong sense of protection, love, understanding and support is so important in our classes, and ensuring happy, smiling and joyful children is what, above all, unites us in our circle.

We have also been benefitting from the contribution of the wonderful Jenni Griggs, who has helped us so much in the development of our circle. Thank you very much, Jenni, for your good advice and your daily support for our ideas, your active involvement and your love for the children.

Indeed, we thank everyone who has been helping us and who are still working with us. And this includes Eastnor Pottery & The Flying Potter who have given our group such a wonderful opportunity to become involved in clay modelling. And thank you to Libby Allen for arranging transport and getting us to and from the workshops. You are all wonderfully kind people.

Indeed, may God bless everyone who has helped our group and who continues to do so. We are so grateful to everyone who has offered support and who has contributed to the development of our circle. And what a great team our little kids have become – a team that we all hope will only grow and continue to flourish!

We would love to be able to expand the opportunities that help so much in developing the children in our circle, and we would be delighted to welcome other young children and teenagers to come along to develop their English with us, to dance, to make music, and get involved in various arts according to their personal interests.

We encourage all children and adults to join our circle, and we will be extremely pleased to meet and get to know each of you.

We are also looking for more sponsorship and for other people who might be able and willing to support us in our ambition to open a Ukrainian school here in beautiful Malvern.

We will openly welcome everyone who comes along for a cup of coffee/tea and chat with us and to discuss the possibilities for the further development of our group.

And we will be hugely appreciative of any donations to funds that can be made.

This Sunday (October 1), we are organizing a festival day to mark ‘Defender of Ukraine Day’. On this special day, we will have a special festive event with national Ukrainian dishes for everyone to enjoy, as well as singing and dancing led by the Ukrainian children and their adults. Everyone is invited and we look forward to seeing you then.

Follow our Facebook group by searching 'Talented Ukrainian Children in Malvern'.